Narcan (brand name) or naloxone (name of medication) is a drug used to reverse an opioid overdose, including overdoses due to fentanyl. It is available without a prescription and is legal to carry. We encourage everyone to have naloxone as a tool in their first aid kit – carrying naloxone and knowing how to use it can save a life! But, it’s also important to know the signs of an opioid overdose.
And, remember – you don’t have to look for every sign of an overdose. If someone is unresponsive and breathing irregularly, you can give them naloxone. It won’t hurt them if they’re having another type of medical emergency!
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How to Respond to an Overdose
If you do not have naloxone, call 911 immediately
- Verbal Stimulation
- Try to wake the person up
- Loudly say: “Hey, are you okay?”
- Physical Stimulation
- Rub your knuckles up & down on the center of the chest bone to stimulate pain
- Administer Naloxone
- Insert nozzle into nostril
- Press plunger firmly
- Administer a second dose after two minutes
- Immediately go to steps 4 & 5
- Call 911 to Get Help
- Give the dispatcher your location and tell them someone is not responding or breathing
- Rescue Breathing
- Pinch nose & tilt head back
- Provide 2 breaths to start
- Then 1 breath every 5 seconds
- The person’s chest should rise & fall
- Continue this step until they start breathing