Get clear, parent-focused guidance on overdose signs, naloxone nasal spray, and how to give naloxone to a child or teen in an emergency. Answer a few questions to receive personalized guidance for your family.
If you have questions about when to use naloxone on a child, how to carry naloxone for family, or what steps to take during an overdose rescue, this quick assessment can help you identify what to review next.
Naloxone is a medicine that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. For parents, knowing how to use naloxone means being able to recognize warning signs, respond quickly, and call 911 right away. This page is designed for caregivers who want straightforward information about naloxone for parents, including how naloxone nasal spray works, when it may be needed, and how to prepare before an emergency happens.
Possible opioid overdose signs include very slow or stopped breathing, blue or gray lips, pinpoint pupils, unusual sleepiness, and not waking up when you call their name or rub the center of their chest.
If a child or teen is unresponsive and you think opioids may be involved, give naloxone as directed and call 911. Naloxone is used when overdose is suspected, even if you are not completely sure.
Naloxone can restore breathing for a limited time, but emergency medical care is still needed. A person can return to overdose after the medicine wears off.
Try to wake the child or teen by calling their name and rubbing the center of the chest firmly. If breathing is slow, absent, or they cannot be awakened, treat it as an emergency.
Place the tip of the naloxone nasal spray into one nostril and press the plunger firmly to give the full dose. Follow the product instructions and call 911 immediately if you have not already.
Lay the person on their side if they are breathing on their own, or provide rescue breathing if you have been trained. If there is no response after 2 to 3 minutes and another dose is available, give a second dose.
Store naloxone in an easy-to-access place at home and know where it is at all times. Check expiration dates and replace it as needed.
If your child is at risk or there are opioids in the home, consider carrying naloxone in a bag, car, or other safe location so it is available during outings or travel.
Many pharmacies, pediatric practices, schools, and community programs offer parent naloxone overdose rescue education. Training can help you feel more confident using naloxone under stress.
Use naloxone when an opioid overdose is suspected and the child or teen is hard to wake, not breathing normally, or unresponsive. If you are unsure but opioids may be involved, it is generally recommended to give naloxone and call 911.
For naloxone nasal spray, place the device into one nostril and press the plunger to give the full dose. Then call 911, monitor breathing, and give another dose in 2 to 3 minutes if there is no response and a second device is available.
Naloxone works specifically on opioids and is not known to cause overdose in someone who has not taken opioids. In an emergency, the risk of waiting is often greater than the risk of giving naloxone when opioid overdose is possible.
Some families choose to carry naloxone because accidental exposure, misuse, or counterfeit pills can happen unexpectedly. If there is any concern about opioid access or risk, having naloxone available can be an important safety step.
No. Naloxone is a temporary emergency medicine. The child or teen still needs medical evaluation because overdose symptoms can return after naloxone wears off.
Answer a few questions to better understand overdose signs, naloxone nasal spray use, and the next steps that can help you feel more prepared to respond in an emergency.
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