The Skeptics' Guide to EM

MAY 21, 2017

Do heroin overdose patients require observation after receiving naloxone? Do heroin overdose patients require observation after receiving naloxone? Opioids depress the heart rate and breathing and overdoses can result in death. The second new recommendation was about opioid overdose treatment. Clinical Toxicology 2017.

Naloxone 130

Naloxone Overdose First Responder BLS 130

Paramedics Unlimited

APRIL 19, 2018

What is the difference between ALS and BLS Medical Care? In Basic Life Support (BLS) emergencies, a single EMS provider can not deliver optimum care, such as when trying to hold direct pressure on a bleeding wound, while preparing bandages, to stop bleeding. Paramedics provide pain management treatment in the field.

BLS 52

BLS ALS Emergency Medical Technician Advanced Life Support 52

EMDocs

NOVEMBER 6, 2023

Opioid overdose remains the leading cause of cardiac arrest due to poisoning in North America. For a patient with suspected opioid overdose who has a definite pulse but no normal breathing or only gasping (ie, a respiratory arrest), in addition to providing standard BLS and/or ALS care, it is reasonable for responders to administer naloxone.

Naloxone 115

Naloxone OR BLS Overdose 115

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 don’t see anyone on two passes, but then I hear the BLS unit radio they’ve found him. I have done many overdoses like this one of homeless people who were in fact down alleys and behind dumpsters.

Overdose 52

Overdose BLS EMT EMT 52

Peter Canning

JANUARY 15, 2024

They treated me like s**t the time I overdosed. One day I was dispatched to an overdose. I was in the paramedic fly car and a BLS crew was in the ambulance. I didn’t see anyone on two passes, but then I heard the BLS unit radio that they’d found the patient. You have just overdosed. They don’t like me there.

Overdose 52

Overdose BLS EMT EMT 52

Paramedic Training Spot

NOVEMBER 29, 2021

Before BLS, or Basic Life Support, was able to administer Narcan, agencies would have to wait for a MICP unit to arrive on scene to administer the lifesaving medication. They had overdosed, and this was before the widespread use of Narcan. Although protocols differ from state to state, local and agency protocols may vary as well.

EMT 52

EMT EMT EMR Emergency Medical Technician 52