Drugs affect everyone
differently. Sometimes people take too much or suffer a bad
reaction. If it all goes wrong, don't be the one who stands back
helpless. In an emergency, here's how to help.
If someone gets TENSE and PANICS
This can occur
with LSD, magic mushrooms, speed, and ecstasy.
- Calm them and be
reassuring.
- Explain that the
feelings will pass.
- Steer them clear
of crowds, noisy music and bright lights.
- If they're
hyperventilating (over-breathing) encourage them to relax, and
take long, slow, deep breaths.
If someone gets really DROWSY
A risk with
tranquillisers, heroin, alcohol, gases, aerosols & glue.
- Call an ambulance
immediately.
- Keep them awake,
but do not shake them hard or startle them, especially if they
have been using glue or other solvents.
- Place them in the
recovery position (see later in this article) and talk to them.
- NEVER give coffee
to rouse them. This can make the drug in them work even faster.
If someone gets TOO HOT and DEHYDRATES
Ecstasy and
speed affect the body temperature control. If users dance
energetically without taking regular breaks or keeping up fluids
there's a real danger that their bodies can overheat and
dehydrate (lose too much body fluid). Warning signs include:
cramps, fainting, headache or sudden tiredness.
- Move them to a
cooler quiet area (outside is often best).
- Remove excess
clothing and try to cool them down.
- Encourage them to
sip non-alcoholic fluids like water and soft drinks.
- If symptoms
persist call an ambulance, but make sure someone stays with
them.
If someone FAINTS or LOSES CONSCIOUSNESS
A danger for
someone on heroin, tranquillizers, alcohol, poppers, gases,
aerosols or glue, people who suffer a bad reaction to ecstasy
and ecstasy users who dance and don't keep up fluids.
- Place them in the
recovery position.
- Check breathing.
Be prepared to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (see below).
- Call an ambulance.
- Keep them warm,
but not too hot.
- If they're
slipping in and out of consciousness, DO NOT attempt to give
them fluids, they can easily choke.
THE RECOVERY POSITION
If someone
has collapsed, and they're still breathing:
- Turn them onto
their front, with their head sideways on the side nearest to
you.
- Bend their upper
arm and their leg on the side nearest to you.
- Straighten the
other arm and leg.
- STAY WITH THEM,
keep an eye on their breathing, and tell someone to CALL AN
AMBULANCE.
- DO NOT put someone
in the recovery position if you think they've got a head or neck
injury.
EMERGENCY RESUSCITATION
If someone's
heart has stopped and they've stopped breathing, you need to act
fast:
- Call out for help.
Tell someone to CALL AN AMBULANCE.
- Quickly look in
their mouth and scoop out any foreign bodies or vomit.
- Turn them onto
their back.
- Tilt their head
back and lift the chin slightly to open the airway.
- Close their
nostrils with your thumb and finger.
- Take a deep breath
and place your mouth over their mouth.
- Blow into their
mouth until their chest expands.
- Repeat one more
time.
- Feel the side of
their neck or at the wrist with your fingers for a pulse.
- If there is no
sign, perform CARDIAC MASSAGE:
- Locate the notch
at the bottom of the breastbone.
- Measure 2
finger-widths above this.
- Place both hands
on the middle of the breastbone and press down firmly and
smoothly 15 times, at a rate of about 80 times per minute.
- Keep repeating
MOUTH-TO-MOUTH (2 breaths) and then CARDIAC MASSAGE (15
compressions) until you get a pulse and breathing, or until the
ambulance crew arrive and take over.
Ambulance alert
If someone's
taken a bad turn and you're worried about his or her condition,
then call an ambulance immediately. When the crew arrive list
the symptoms, and tell them if you know what drugs have been
taken. Hand over anything they may have taken if you've got
something from the same batch. It might save a life and you
won't get into trouble.
Want to learn more?
Take a first
aid course run by the American
Red Cross
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