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Whether it occurs intentionally or by accident, an overdose is one of those medical emergencies that require immediate action. Failure to receive emergency medical assistance can lead to devastating consequences. Read on to discover what you can do in overdose emergencies while waiting for help to arrive.

Understanding Overdoses and Why They Happen

An overdose happens when you take an amount higher than the recommended dose of a substance or medicine. For instance, you could find yourself consuming more alcohol than your body can handle or ingesting a higher dosage of prescribed medications, which can be detrimental. Whether these scenarios happen accidentally or not, an overdose can lead to life-threatening complications that require urgent medical attention.

Spotting the Signs of an Overdose

Recognising an overdose quickly is the first step in helping someone survive. While symptoms vary depending on what was taken, there are common warning signs that can signal urgent medical care. Use the FREE-to-use iER App to connect to nationwide emergency responders if you notice:

• Unconsciousness or extreme drowsiness.
• Shallow, slow, or irregular breathing.
• Pinpoint or dilated pupils.
• Confusion, agitation, or hallucinations.
• Seizures or convulsions.
• Bluish lips or fingertips are a common sign of low oxygen.
• Vomiting, especially if the person is unresponsive.
• Picking up unusual smells, such as alcohol or chemicals, on their breath or clothing.

What You Can Do Before Help Arrives

Step 1: Call for Help Immediately

The most important thing you can do in an overdose emergency is call emergency services without delay. You can use the FREE-to-use iER App panic button widget to connect instantly to a 24/7 emergency contact centre that will dispatch the right help, whether it’s paramedics, ambulance services, or poison specialists.

Provide clear information, including the following:

• What substance was taken, if you are aware?
• How much was taken and when?
• The person’s age, weight, and current condition, for example, whether they’re conscious or unconscious.
• Any existing medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, or epilepsy.

Step 2: Keep Them Safe and Breathing

While waiting for help, your priority is to keep the person alive and stable. Here’s what you can do:

If They Are Unconscious but Breathing

• Place them in the recovery position (on their side with the head tilted slightly back). This prevents choking if they vomit.
• Loosen tight clothing around the chest and neck.
• Continuously monitor their breathing until help arrives.

If They Are Not Breathing or Have No Pulse

• Start CPR immediately if you are trained. Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest (100–120 compressions per minute).
• If not trained, dispatchers from emergency services can talk you through the steps over the phone.

Step 3: Do Not Give Food, Drink, or Home Remedies

A common mistake most people make during an overdose emergency is trying to alleviate the severe symptoms with milk, salt water, or other home remedies. However, these can make things worse because they can induce vomiting, increase the toxicity of the substance, cause choking, or lead to further internal damage. Your role is to stabilise the patient until professional help arrives.

Step 4: Gather Useful Information

Time is critical in overdose cases, and paramedics will act faster if they know what they are dealing with. It’s always important to gather the items ingested and hand them over to medical emergency services when they arrive. This includes ensuring you have the bottle, packet, or container of the substance taken, leftover pills, powders, or syringes and a list of the person’s medications or chronic conditions.

Step 5: Stay Calm

It’s easy to panic in an overdose situation. However, your calm presence can make all the difference and keep the person alive. These are some of the things you can do:

• Reassure the person if they are awake and keep them still.
• Speak clearly and firmly to emergency operators.
• Stay on the line until you are told to hang up.

How to Prevent Overdoses

While you can’t always predict when an overdose emergency will occur, most overdoses are preventable with these proactive measures:

• Store all medicines and chemicals out of reach of children.
• Check labels carefully before taking or giving medication.
• Avoid mixing alcohol with prescription drugs.
• If you or someone you know struggles with substance use, seek support before it becomes a life-threatening situation.
• Keep the FREE-to-use iER App installed and connected to the internet with location settings enabled on your phone for 24/7 and instant access to emergency help.

Although dealing with an overdose is terrifying, your actions in that moment count and can lead to a life saved. If you notice signs that suggest someone has consumed a life-threatening amount of substances or prescribed medications, you should seek immediate help. With the FREE-to-use iER App, access to nationwide medical and non-medical emergency services has never been easier. Download it today from the Google Play Store, the Apple App Store, or the Huawei App Gallery!