Overdose Prevention Page
Signs of Opioid Overdose
Intro angle: this page would help a visitor recognize overdose quickly and act without waiting to be certain. It should make clear that overdose can look like deep sleep, intoxication, or snoring, and that breathing changes are the key warning sign.
If someone may be overdosing
- Call 911.
- Give naloxone/Narcan if available.
- Follow the 911 operator's instructions.
- Place the person on their side if you can do so safely.
- Stay until emergency help arrives.
If you are not sure, treat it like an overdose and call 911.
Quick Answer / At A Glance
Overdose can look like sleep
This area would explain why people should not wait for someone to "sleep it off."
Breathing is the warning sign
Slow, shallow, irregular, or stopped breathing would be called out plainly.
Narcan can help
Naloxone/Narcan can reverse opioid overdose, but emergency medical help is still needed.
Local supplies are available
Hope Council can connect people with Narcan, test strips, training, and support.
Main Guidance: How To Recognize An Opioid Overdose
Response signs
Unresponsive, unable to wake up, unable to speak, limp body, or vomiting.
Breathing signs
Slow or stopped breathing, choking, gurgling, snoring, or rattling sounds.
Color and pupil signs
Blue, purple, gray, pale, or clammy skin, especially lips or fingernails, plus pinpoint pupils if visible.
What To Do And What Not To Do
Do right away
Call 911, give naloxone, support breathing if trained or instructed, place the person on their side, and stay nearby.
Do not delay
Do not wait, put the person in a cold shower, leave them alone, or assume naloxone replaces emergency care.
Higher-risk moments
Fentanyl, counterfeit pills, mixing substances, using alone, or lower tolerance after time not using.
Local Access And Related Resources
Get Narcan before an emergency
Link visitors to How to Use Narcan and Hope Council supply access.
Worried about fentanyl
Connect to Fentanyl & Xylazine and test strip information.
After an overdose
Move visitors to After an Overdose for follow-up support and safety planning.
Support for loved ones
Connect family and bystanders to Supporting a Loved One.
FAQ Examples
What are signs of an opioid overdose?
This answer would quickly list unresponsiveness, breathing changes, skin color changes, and call 911/Narcan steps.
How can I tell if someone is high or overdosing?
This answer would tell visitors to act if they are unsure and not wait for certainty.
Where can I get Narcan in Kenosha?
This answer would point to Hope Council's Public Health Vending Machine, Narcan training, and supply pathways.
Sources And Review
This page would use CDC, SAMHSA, Wisconsin DHS, NIDA/NIH, and Hope Council program sources, then receive staff review before publishing.
Last reviewed: to be added before launch; overdose content should be reviewed at least every 6 months.