CPR & Rescue Breathing

Why is rescue breathing and CPR important in overdose response?

Rescue breathing and CPR are important in opioid overdoses because they are oxygen emergencies. With or without naloxone, administering rescue breathing is one of the most important steps to take to ensure that an individual gets oxygen while medical help is on the way.

Give rescue breaths if the person is not breathing but their heart is still beating: 

  • To check a pulse on the carotid artery, place your index and middle fingers on their neck to the side of their windpipe

If you don’t feel a pulse, perform CPR:

  • Give 30 chest compressions

  • Give 2 rescue breaths

  • Repeat compressions and breaths until an ambulance arrives

Rescue Breaths

  • Use a barrier mask from a naloxone or first aid kit, or improvise with a piece of clothing or sleeve

  • Tilt the head back and lift the chin up

  • Pinch the nose shut then make a complete seal over the person’s mouth

  • Blow in (by breathing normally) for ~ 1 second to make the chest clearly rise

  • Repeat until you see colour return to person’s face, or continue CPR after 2 breaths

CPR & Chest Compressions

  • Position arms in a locked position

  • Push hard and fast with both hands in the centre of the chest

  • Push down at least 2 inches with each compression

  • Give 30 compressions in 1-second intervals 

  • Continue chest compressions and rescue breaths until EMS arrives

For more information about CPR visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s website, or book a training with the Canadian Red Cross.