NorthWest Arkansas Community College

Opioid Overdose Rescue Kits

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How to Respond to an Overdose & Administer Naloxone/Narcan:

Instructions on how to respond to an overdose can be found below and inside the opioid overdose rescue kit itself. The kit has instructions to call 911, as well as if and when to give a second dose of Naloxone/Narcan.

NOTE: The Joshua Ashley-Pauley Act and the Opioid Antagonist Immunity Act offer protections when you call 911 and/or assist in the event of an overdose. 

Step by Step Instructions:

1) Check for a Response

• Try to wake them up. Shake them and shout their name.
• Rub your knuckles hard on the center of their chest.
• Hold your ear close to their nose, listen and feel for signs of breathing.
• Look for signs of an overdose such as small pinpoint pupils and pale blue skin and nail color.

 2) Call 911

• Tell the operator your exact location and say you are with a person who is not breathing.
• Tell the operator you are going to give the person Naloxone/Narcan.
• Follow any instructions you get from the operator.

 3) Administer Naloxone

• Hold the spray with your thumb on the bottom of the plunger and place your index and middle fingers on the side of the nozzle. 
• Tilt the individual’s head back and support their head with your hand.
• Insert the nozzle into a nostril until your fingers on either side of the nozzle are against the bottom of the person’s nose.
• Press the plunger firmly to release the full dose.
  • Review the graphic to the right and this 30-second video to learn how to administer Naloxone/Narcan nasal spray. 

4) Start Rescue Breathing

• Check again if they are breathing. Someone who has overdosed needs oxygen. Naloxone may take a few minutes to start working.
• If you can't hear them breathe or their breath sounds shallow, provide rescue breaths.
• Follow instructions of 911 operator until help arrives.

 5) Give a Second Dose of Naloxone

• Wait about 3 minutes for Naloxone to take effect. If the person has not responded after 3 minutes, give a second dose.

 6) Provide Post Care

• Stay with the person until help arrives.
• If the person starts breathing on their own, but they do not wake up, roll them to their side to a recovery position.
• When the person wakes up, they may not remember what happened and they may be scared, nervous or restless. Keep them calm until help arrives.

Feel free to also download the Opioid Overdose Protocol Toolkit. 

 

Location of Opioid Overdose Kits at NWACC

The following maps show the locations of the opioid overdose kits in NWACC buildings. The opioid overdose kits can be found in the same locations as the automated external defibrillators (AED) kits.