overdose situation (hypothetically!)?

Question

if i was in a situation where someone was drinking and taking pills, I just happened to walk in to the situation where they overdosed. Is it true that I should give them a cold shower? WHat is the proper procedure?

Keep in mind this is before someone is calling the doctor. So I KNOW I SHOULD CALL THE DOCTOR.

Answer 1

A cold shower would be a bad idea in certain types of overdoses, as the cold could irritate the heart and send it into an arrhythmia. They might also inhale some of the water, leading to other problems. You would want to stabilize the patient until the ambulance arrives. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed to do so. Do not allow the patient to eat or drink anything. If the patient is unconcious but breathing, roll them on their left side if at all possible. If they are not breathing begin CPR. While you are on the phone with 911, try to give them information on the pills/drinks that were taken, and do not hang up until instructed to do so. They will probably keep gathering info until the ambulance arrives. ODs are nasty, so I hope this is not something you have to deal with.

Answer 2

No do not give them a cold shower. The potential for falling and sustaining further injuries is too great, not only for the victim but also yourself. Give any first aid immediately. Gather any evidence you find at the scene such as pill bottles or pills and save it for the EMT's after you call 911. Remember in addition to having ODed they may also have an ongoing metabolic disturbance (such as a low blood sugar) which would would further complicate matters. If the patient makes any suicidal comment to you make sure you relate it to the 911 team. The police at that point can determine if they want to do paperwork for a mental health detention, or alcohol and drug incap. Other than administering first aid if necessary, the best thing is just staying with them until the ambulance comes and gathering any info that may prove they intended to OD or what pill bottles are present to assist in determining what they took. There are drugs such as Narcan, etc. that can be given at the hospital to counteract narcotics for example. The patient will be "charcoaled" thru a levine tube, an IV started, and probably have telemetry going. That's just a simplistic overview of the protocol. Do not give them a cold shower, try giving them coffee, or etc. The potential for doing greater damage exists!

Answer 3

Hello WeaponDrift,
Thank you for asking this question, I (re) learned) a lot.
After consulting a few reputable Web sites [written by doctors and/or licensed health professionals] ...this is what I have to
offer, before calling for medical help

(1) Administer first aid
(2) Call a Poison Control Center
[1-800-222-1222 anywhere in US]
[If you live outside the US, let me know, I will search
for an appropriate telephone number]


Here is some of the information quoted from the sources below
-------------------------------
"Home care should not be done without first consulting a doctor or poison expert.
Drug Overdose Treatment - Self Care at home
For some accidental drug overdoses, the local poison control center may recommend home therapy and observation. Because of the potential for problems after some overdoses, syrup of ipecac or other therapies should not be given unless directed by a medical professional. "

-------------------------------------
Drug Abuse First Aid
[Links are given to pages with more information, as
treating shock]

"1. Check the victim's airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, begin CPR at once. If the victim is unconscious but breathing, carefully place him or her in the recovery position. If the victim is conscious, loosen the clothing, keep the person warm, and provide reassurance. Try to keep the victim calm. If an overdose is suspected, try to prevent the victim from taking more drugs. Call for immediate medical assistance.

2. Treat the victim for signs of shock, if necessary. Signs include: weakness, bluish lips and fingernails, clammy skin, paleness, and decreasing alertness.

3. If the victim is having convulsions, give convulsion first aid.

4. Keep monitoring the victim's vital signs (pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure) until emergency medical help arrives.

5. If possible, try to determine which drug(s) were taken and when. Save any available pill bottles or other drug containers. Provide this information to emergency medical personnel."
----------------------------------------------
If no other Yahoo "Answerers" give additional information to fully
answer your question...
and/or you think I could help out more..
Please do not hesitate to email me..
I will gladly search some more...

In the meantime, I really appreciate this question...
I believe many people are thinking about how to react in
this kind of situation.

Janice

PS I was reading a handout from work...
It said if someone was on the floor..
to turn them on their side so ...in case they vomitted..
they would not choke on their vomit

Answer 4

Call an ambulance immediately!! Then basically try to stop the person from falling asleep, a cold shower would do it. Walking them around (if they're not too out of it) Anything until help arrives. Keep any bottles or labels of whatever stuff they could have taken. If its paracetamol make them vomit immediately or liver failure a few days down the road is very likely. Most importantly GET HELP.

Answer 5

Of course, call an ambulance immediately, but of course you know that. Then, put then on their SIDE, NOT ON THEIR BACK, or they will choke to death on their vomit. Then, wait for the ambulance to arrive. There is not much else you can do, but you can hope that the abulance is quick. Also, the 911 operator will probably be able to tell you of any further action you should take. I'm not sure about that cold shower, though. Plus, if they're bigger then you, then you won't be able to life them in there.

Answer 6

i could retrace my footsteps, Striney - strolling gradually backwards till I had reached a public domicile serving alcoholic beverages. On getting into pronounced business enterprise i could consume as lots gin as became mandatory to blot out all reminiscence of the messy difficulty in question. for that reason absolved of all past primary jobs, i could curl up on the floor below a bar stool and start up an entire new existence because of the fact the pub's cat.