How to save a life from drug overdose
If you are attempting to save someone from a drug overdose, it is
important to understand the process you need to go through. If you
understand the procedure, this can mean the difference between life and
death. The very first step you should do is to call either a doctor,
poison control center, the emergency room or 911. You need to get advice
from an expert on the steps that should be performed, even before you
leave to take the victim to the hospital or before the ambulance
arrives. When you call, try to have all the available facts clearly in
mind so you can relay this information to the doctor. If possible,
quickly find out what the overdose victim ingested. You also want to
find out how much was ingested, the time the incident occurred, how old
the victim is and their physical condition. If there were syringes or
other objects involved, save them and give them to the EMT or other
appropriate medical personnel.
Immediately after you have discovered the victim, you will need to
perform CPR if the victim is not breathing or has no pulse. It will be
necessary for emergency personnel to instruct you over the phone if you
do not know CPR. The key is to get the victim to the emergency room as
soon as possible. If the victim is conscious but has swallowed drugs
within 30 minutes. some recommend inducing vomiting. You will want to
verify this with the medical personnel. If the decision is made to
induce vomiting, then make sure the person is face down or bent over so
the vomit does not enter the lungs. After that is completed, it is
recommended that you give them 2 - 4 teaspoons of powdered charcoal
mixed with water. Also, remember to keep the victim awake if he or she
took a tranquilizer or sleeping pill.
One beginning safety precaution to help prevent a drug overdose is to
always carefully measure out the medication before giving it to your
child. Use proper equipment such as a measuring spoon or syringe. You
need to always use the recommended dosage and do not give a double
dosage if you missed one. From a practical standpoint, if you find
yourself in an emergency situation, make sure to unlock the doors of
your house so the emergency can quickly get into your house. When
speaking with the emergency personnel, try to remain calm so you can get
accurate information from them. Remember to always store your
medications out of the reach of your children. If you suspect that one
of your family members or friends are using drugs, then you may want to
place your medications in a locked cabinet. |
