How to Help Someone Experiencing an Opioid Poisoning | First Aid Tips

Learn how to recognize and respond to an opioid poisoning. In this video, we walk you through the signs of opioid poisoning and the first aid steps you can take, including the use of naloxone. Acting quickly can save a life. In this video, we’ll walk you through: 00:00 – How to help someone experiencing an opioid poisoning 00:10 – What is an opioid poisoning? 00:35 – Opioid poisoning symptoms 01:05 – First aid steps for opioid poisoning 01:15 – If the person is responsive and their breathing is normal 01:50 – If the person is unresponsive but their breathing is normal 02:15 – How to use naloxone nasal spray 02:45 – Continual Care 03:29 – If the person’s breathing is not normal 03:40 – Recap You’ve probably heard the term “opioid overdose” before. Saying that a person “overdosed” can imply that they intentionally took too much of an opioid. This suggests responsibility for the opioid poisoning, but statistics from the Government of Canada show that more than 9 out of 10 deaths actually happen by accident. Using the term “overdose” can increase stigma and make others less willing to help. We focus on opioid poisoning as a medical emergency and avoid language that stigmatizes people (“opioid overdose”). Calling 911 or your local emergency number right away during an opioid poisoning emergency ensures professional help arrives as soon as possible. Gloves are recommended in all first aid training. Actors in this video may not be wearing gloves to reflect real-life scenarios. This video is for informational purposes and does not replace first aid training. Find more first aid educational resources: • More first aid videos:    • First Aid for Everyday Emergencies | Step-...   • Get our free First Aid App at RedCross.ca/Apps • Learn more first aid tips at RedCross.ca/FirstAidTips • Find a first aid course near you at MyRC.RedCross.ca • Shop first aid kits at RedCross.ca/Shop Learn more at RedCross.ca/FirstAid Follow us on: Facebook:   / canadianredcross   Instagram:   / redcrosscanada   LinkedIn:   / redcrosscanada   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@redcrosscanad... Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/redcrosscana... Confidence to act. Knowledge to respond. © 2025 Canadian Red Cross #Opioid #OpioidPoisoning #Naloxone #OpioidCrisis #CanadianRedCross #FirstAid