The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Paramedic

MARCH 1, 2021

An accidental opioid overdose and its nemesis, naloxone. With experience, plenty of ambulance personnel develop a habit of drafting an extrication plan while walking into every situation, depending on the level of chaos that greets us. Some start to sink in right from the early days of education.

Ambulance 52

Ambulance Paramedic Naloxone First Responder 52

The Skeptics' Guide to EM

JANUARY 19, 2019

Hospital Observation Upon Reversal (HOUR) With Naloxone: A Prospective Clinical Prediction Rule Validation Study. Hospital Observation Upon Reversal (HOUR) With Naloxone: A Prospective Clinical Prediction Rule Validation Study. The EMS crew observes drug paraphernalia and suspect an intravenous (IV) opioid overdose.

Naloxone 130

Naloxone Overdose Emergency Medical Services Emergency Department 130

Peter Canning

OCTOBER 30, 2023

We’re dispatched to an overdose on Ashley Street. I am in the fly car and a BLS crew is in the ambulance. I have done many overdoses like this one of homeless people who were in fact down alleys and behind dumpsters. They appeared in court or were hospitalized for overdose. We’re driving around looking for the victim.

Overdose 52

Overdose BLS EMT EMT 52

Peter Canning

APRIL 9, 2025

You are dispatched for an overdose. You suspect he took an opioid and that some passerby gave him naloxone as there is a used naloxone vial under the bench that doesn’t look like it has been there forever. There is no federal legal obligation to allow emotional support dogs to accompany a patient in the ambulance.

Naloxone 52

Naloxone Overdose Ambulance EMS 52