This past Thursday, we had a guest speaker.  Jennifer from Douglas County Mental Health shared with us her presentation on the proper use of Narcan. 

Narcan is a one use nasal spray that is used in the event of a drug overdose.

She shared that not only do people overdose on illegal drugs, but they can also overdose on prescription drugs. 

Jennifer advised that Opioids, which can be either prescription pain killers or illegal drugs,  are a common source of an overdose. 

One way to identify an overdose is if the person seems too relaxed. Too many Opioids can cause your body to relax too much.

She also shared an acronym that will help even more to identify an overdose.

A- is the person alert? If they are talking, then they’re alert.

B- Breathing?  Is their breathing decreased, is there less breathing or an absence of breathing?

C- Color of lips or fingertips. Is there a change in their skin tone? 

Narcan is only one dose, and will normally assist with breathing. However after 3-4 minutes, if there is no response, you can use a second dose if needed. 

If you are dealing with someone who is experiencing an overdose, first and foremost it’s important to call 911. There is no limit on the age of someone who can overdose. Sixty percent of overdoses happen in residential settings. 

When calling 911 for someone who has overdosed, make sure and be aware of your surroundings, noting the nearest entrance and exit.  This will be important for any emergency services that come to assist. Jennifer also talked briefly about Nebraska’s Good Samaritan Law, which encourages people to call 911 if someone is experiencing an overdose.

The Good Samaritan Law , basically allows for one person to provide emergency care at the scene of an emergency, and the person assisting is relieved of any civil liability. Jennifer provided a very informative, and helpful presentation for us and did an amazing job.

Thank you, Jennifer! 

You can find a full definition of Nebraska’s Good Samaritan law on Nebraska’s Legislature website at: 

https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=25-21,186