Naloxone Training Centre
A calm, plain-language walkthrough of how to recognize a suspected opioid poisoning, call 911, give rescue breaths and use naloxone — plus a practice challenge you can repeat as often as you like.
Last medically reviewed: July 2026 · Content should be re-checked against BCCDC and Toward the Heart guidance at least every six months.
1. What naloxone does
Naloxone temporarily reverses opioid poisoning
Naloxone blocks opioid effects long enough to help restore breathing. It works on opioids such as fentanyl, heroin, morphine, hydromorphone, methadone, oxycodone and codeine.
Important facts
- Naloxone only reverses opioid effects.
- It will not reverse poisoning caused only by stimulants, alcohol or benzodiazepines.
- Give naloxone when opioid poisoning is suspected, even when you do not know what was taken.
- Naloxone will not harm someone who has not taken opioids.
- It can begin working within minutes.
- Its effect is temporary, generally lasting approximately 30 minutes to two hours.
- More than one dose may be needed.
- Calling 911 and supporting breathing are essential.
2. Recognize opioid poisoning
⏱️ Breathing practice counter
Practise counting breaths for 30 seconds, then double the number to estimate breaths per minute.
3. The SAVE ME response
Work down the list in order. Each step is colour-coded and labelled with its letter.
S — Stimulate
- Say the person's name loudly.
- Tell them what you are doing.
- Squeeze their fingertips or the muscle between the neck and shoulder.
- If they do not respond, call 911 immediately.
- Put the phone on speaker if possible.
What to say to 911: “Someone is unresponsive and is not breathing normally. I think this may be an opioid overdose. We are at [exact location]. I have naloxone.”A — Airway
- Lay the person on their back.
- Check whether they are breathing normally.
- Check for a pulse for no more than 10 seconds.
- Remove visible objects from their mouth if this can be done safely.
- Tilt the head back and lift the chin to open the airway.
- Do not perform a blind finger sweep.
V — Ventilate
- Use the breathing mask from the kit if available.
- Pinch the nose closed.
- Make a seal over the person's mouth.
- Give one breath every five seconds.
- Watch for the chest to rise.
- Continue supporting their breathing.
😷 Rescue breath pacer — one breath every 5 seconds
Practice breaths given: 0
E — Evaluate
- Recheck breathing.
- Recheck responsiveness.
- Check the pulse for no longer than 10 seconds.
- Normal breathing means at least 12 breaths per minute without gurgling, choking or other abnormal breathing sounds.
M — Medicate
- If the person is not breathing normally, give one dose of naloxone.
👃 Nasal naloxone
- Remove the device from its package.
- Do not test or prime it.
- Support the back of the person's head.
- Place the nozzle into one nostril.
- Press the plunger firmly to release the entire dose.
- Each device contains one dose and cannot be reused.
💉 Injectable naloxone
- Put on gloves when available.
- Open one naloxone ampoule carefully, following the instructions in the kit.
- Draw the entire 1 mL ampoule into the syringe.
- Inject straight into a large muscle of the upper arm or outer thigh.
- Injection can usually be given through light clothing when necessary.
- Place the used syringe in a sharps container when one is available.
- Never recap a used needle.
Use the exact directions supplied with the person's naloxone kit if they differ.E — Evaluate and support
- Continue one rescue breath every five seconds.
- Recheck breathing, responsiveness and pulse.
- If breathing is still not normal, give another naloxone dose after three minutes.
- Continue rescue breaths and another dose every three minutes when needed.
- Stop giving naloxone once breathing is normal, even if the person is not fully awake.
- If there is no pulse, begin CPR with chest compressions and rescue breathing. Use an AED if available and follow the 911 dispatcher's directions.
- Stay until emergency responders arrive.
⏳ Naloxone Reassessment Timer (3 minutes)
3:00Keep checking breathing the whole time. This timer does not replace continuous monitoring.
4. Recovery and aftercare
🛌 When normal breathing returns
- Place the person in the recovery position on their side.
- Keep their airway open.
- Stay with them.
- Continue monitoring breathing, responsiveness and pulse.
- Keep them warm.
- Explain calmly that naloxone was given.
- Encourage medical assessment and transport with paramedics.
- Be ready to repeat SAVE ME if their breathing slows again.
💛 Sudden withdrawal
Naloxone can cause sudden withdrawal. The person may feel sick, frightened, angry, sweaty, nauseated or uncomfortable. Give them space, speak calmly and explain what happened.
- Let the person use more opioids to counter withdrawal
- Put them in a cold shower or bath
- Make them walk
- Give coffee or stimulants
- Slap, kick or otherwise injure them
- Induce vomiting
- Leave them alone
- Assume the emergency is over because they woke up
5. Good Samaritan information
⚖️ Calling for help
Canada's Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection to people who seek emergency assistance during an overdose. It does not provide protection in every situation. The most important action is to call 911 and save a life.
Read the official explanationSAVE ME Challenge: Can You Respond in the Right Order?
Practise the decisions that can save a life. No real person is shown, and you can repeat every stage as often as needed.
Scenario: You enter a community space and see Alex sitting on the floor against a wall. Alex does not respond when spoken to and appears to be breathing very slowly. A naloxone kit is nearby.
Official B.C. resources
Printable one-page SAVE ME checklist
- Call 911 — say the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
- S — Stimulate: shout their name, squeeze fingertips or shoulder muscle.
- A — Airway: on their back, tilt head, lift chin, clear visible objects.
- V — Ventilate: one rescue breath every 5 seconds, watch the chest rise.
- E — Evaluate: breathing, responsiveness, pulse (max 10 seconds).
- M — Medicate: one dose of naloxone (nasal or 1 mL injection into a large muscle).
- E — Evaluate and support: keep breathing for them, another dose every 3 minutes if needed, CPR if no pulse, stay until help arrives.
- After: recovery position on their side, keep warm, never leave them alone.
Duncan Survival Hub · duncansurvivalhub.com · Educational only — not a certification. Last reviewed July 2026.
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