REVIVE! Training
REVIVE training presented by Berkeley Gerstner and Katie Scipione, Wellness, Health Promotion & Prevention Services, Fairfax/Falls Church Community Services Board.
REVIVE is a statewide program of the Commonwealth of Virginia that makes Naloxone (Narcan) available to lay rescuers to administer to reverse an opioid overdose. A person is allowed to obtain naloxone from a pharmacy without a prescription. Opioids include licit medications like hydrocodone and oxycodone and illicit drugs like heroin. During this lay rescuer training, we learned information about opioids, risk factors for opioid overdoses and the necessary life-saving steps when responding to an opioid overdose emergency.
This training focused on how to administer the opiate overdose reversal drug Naloxone, and how to manage the emergency until the arrival of first responders
Currently there are 90 deaths per day from opioid overdoses in the US and a person can become addicted to opioids within three days. These are staggering statistics to hear. The main difference between someone who is really high and someone who is overdosing is that someone who is overdosing is UNRESPONSIVE. If a person responds to a suspected opioid overdose emergency, they should do the following 4 steps:
- Check for responsiveness; if unresponsive or shallow/irregular breathing is present, proceed to step 2.
- Administer Naloxone (apply I’ve received Naloxone sticker to person either in their hair or on their clothing so it does not fall off
- Place individual in recovery position on their side
- Call 911
The REVIVE presenters demonstrated how to administer Naloxone (Narcan) to an individual with a suspected opioid overdose. There are no weight restrictions on this medication it is the same dose for everyone.
It is important to know that an individual who receives Naloxone should respond to the initial dose within three minutes. If the individual has not responded during this time, administer a second dose of Naloxone.
Naloxone’s effects typically last 30-45 minutes. A person who is addicted to opioids and given Naloxone may exhibit symptoms of withdrawal. It is critical to remember to call 911 because a person who has received Naloxone needs medical attention!
Berkeley and Katie will go out to do REVIVE trainings in the community if anyone is interested or has an organization or event (such as hypothermia week at churches) where people may benefit from this valuable training.
