How to Respond to a Suspected Overdose While Waiting for Help
Learn the life-saving steps to take when someone is overdosing-how to check breathing, give rescue breaths, use naloxone, and position them safely while waiting for emergency help.
Overdose First Aid: What to Do When Someone Overdoses
When someone overdoses, every second counts. Overdose first aid, the immediate actions taken to save a life during a drug or medication overdose. Also known as poisoning response, it’s not about waiting for an ambulance—it’s about acting fast with what you have. An overdose isn’t always obvious. Someone might be unresponsive, breathing slowly or not at all, or have blue lips and pinpoint pupils. It could be opioids like heroin or fentanyl, painkillers like oxycodone, or even too much acetaminophen. The key isn’t knowing exactly what they took—it’s recognizing the danger and responding.
Naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses by blocking opioid receptors in the brain. Also known as Narcan, it’s safe, easy to use, and works within minutes. You don’t need a prescription in most places. If you suspect an opioid overdose, give naloxone right away—even if you’re not sure. It won’t hurt someone who didn’t take opioids. Then call 911. While you wait, keep them breathing. Tilt their head back, lift their chin, and give rescue breaths if they’re not breathing on their own. Don’t leave them alone. Don’t put them in a bath. Don’t try to make them vomit. These myths cost lives.
Emergency response, the chain of actions from recognition to professional help. Also known as first responder protocol, it’s the backbone of survival. Many people freeze when they see someone collapse. But training doesn’t require a medical degree. Knowing how to check for breathing, how to use naloxone, and how to stay calm makes all the difference. Overdose deaths are often preventable—not because of fancy hospitals, but because someone nearby knew what to do. You don’t need to be a hero. You just need to act.
What you’ll find below are real, practical guides from people who’ve been there. How to spot a fentanyl overdose when it looks like sleep. When to give more than one dose of naloxone. Why some overdoses need repeated treatment. How to talk to emergency responders without panic. And what to do after the ambulance leaves—because the crisis doesn’t end when the person wakes up. These aren’t theory pieces. They’re the steps that saved someone’s life yesterday.
