✚ Canadian Red Cross
First Aid for Opioid Poisoning – 1-Hour Information Session
Description:
This 1-hour, in-class group session provides clear, practical, and evidence-based guidance on how to recognize and respond to a suspected opioid poisoning emergency. Participants learn how opioids affect the body, how naloxone works, and how to respond confidently and safely using simple first aid steps.
This is an informational session only and does not provide Red Cross certification.
🩺 What You Will Learn
- Recognize signs & symptoms of opioid poisoning
- Understand the principles of harm reduction
- Administer intranasal naloxone
- Administer intramuscular (IM) naloxone
- Understand when and how naloxone works
- Respond safely & confidently to an opioid emergency
- Reduce stigma and support wellness-based approaches
- Apply Psychological First Aid (PFA) self-care strategies
📘 Training Includes
- Introduction to opioids & how they affect the body
- Types of substances (“uppers” vs “downers”)
- Myth-busting discussion: “What have you heard?”
- Naloxone overview: Narcan vs naloxone
- First aid steps for suspected opioid poisoning
- CPR & AED awareness (scenario-based review)
- PFA self-care before, during & after an event
💉 Demo & Discussion
- Intranasal naloxone
- Intramuscular naloxone (ampoule/vial)
- Post-naloxone considerations & monitoring
📄 Completion Requirements
- 100% attendance
- Participation in demonstrations
👥 Who Is This For?
Anyone 16 years of age or older who wants practical skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to opioid poisoning emergencies.
⏱ Duration
Approximately 1–1.5 hours.
🔁 Re-Training
Recommended every 2–3 years.