Recognize & Respond to an Opioid Overdose

An opioid overdose is a medical emergency!

Recognize an Overdose


  • Blue Lips or Fingernails
  • Clammy Cool Skin
  • No Response to Either the Knuckles or the Breastbone Being Rubbed Hard
  • No Response to Yelling
  • Person Won't Wake Up
  • Seizures or Convulsions
  • Shallow, Slow Breathing

Responding to an Overdose


  • Call 911
    • Give the operator/dispatcher the address.
    • Tell them that the person is not breathing.
    • Stay with the person if you can.
  • While you wait for the ambulance:
    • Put the person on his/her side to prevent them from choking on their own vomit.
    • Conduct rescue breathing if the person is not breathing.
    • Administer Narcan, if you have it.
    • Place the person in a recovery position.



An illustration of how to conduct rescue breathing
An illustration of the recovery position