Responding to a Suspected Overdose on Site: Preparing Your Team

A suspected overdose is one of the most time-critical emergencies staff at a shelter or housing site can face. Preparation, not improvisation, is what makes the difference.

Have a written policy

Every site should have a clear overdose response policy that staff have read and practiced. It should say who does what, where supplies are kept, and how the incident is reported.

Get staff properly trained

Many agencies equip staff with naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose, and train them to use it. That training should come from a qualified source, such as your local public health department or a certified first aid and CPR provider, and should be refreshed regularly.

Know the general sequence

Your policy and training come first. In general, responders are taught to:

1. Check whether the person responds to voice and touch.
2. Call 911 right away and say that the person is unresponsive.
3. Give naloxone and rescue breathing or CPR if trained and equipped to do so.
4. Stay with the person until emergency responders arrive.
5. Tell responders what you saw and what was given.

Make the building ready

• Keep supplies in known, accessible, clearly marked locations.
• Check supplies and expiration dates on a schedule.
• Make sure every shift, including overnight, has trained staff.
• Decide in advance how staff will check on restrooms and other private areas.

Respond without judgment

How staff treat a person after an overdose affects whether they will accept help next time. Stay calm, protect the person's privacy, and follow up with their case manager. See our guide to harm reduction principles.

Support the staff who responded

These events are hard on teams. Hold a debrief and check in again later.

This guide is general information and is not medical advice or a substitute for certified training. Our Facility Safety Training covers how to handle dangerous encounters and report to medical personnel.