Night out gone wrong

Question 1

You find someone slumped in a club toilet. Skin grey, lips bluish, breathing slow and snoring. What does this picture suggest?

Accepted Answer

A possible opioid overdose — slow shallow breathing, blue lips, pinpoint pupils and unresponsiveness are red flags

Answer

They're just very drunk and asleep

Answer

A diabetic hypo

Answer

A panic attack

Question 2

They're unresponsive but breathing slowly. What's your first action?

Accepted Answer

Call 999, get them on their side in the recovery position to protect the airway, and stay with them watching breathing

Answer

Throw water on their face

Answer

Walk them around the club

Answer

Give them coffee and a cold shower

Question 3

Why the recovery position specifically? They're breathing — surely lying flat is fine?

Accepted Answer

Lying on the back lets the tongue fall back and vomit pool in the airway — both common causes of overdose death even when the drug itself wasn't fatal

Answer

It's just tradition

Answer

It looks more comfortable

Answer

It speeds up the metabolism of the drug

Question 4

You glance back and their chest isn't moving and they're only gasping every few seconds. What now?

Accepted Answer

Treat this as not breathing — agonal gasping is a sign of cardiac arrest. Roll them onto their back, start chest compressions immediately and update 999

Answer

That's normal breathing — leave them

Answer

Slap their face to wake them

Answer

Wait for paramedics — CPR will make it worse

Question 5

You spot a small white nasal spray on the floor labelled 'Naloxone'. What is it and should you use it?

Accepted Answer

It's an opioid-reversal drug. In suspected opioid overdose it can be given by anyone — give it as directed on the device, keep calling 999, and keep CPR going if they're not breathing

Answer

It's a recreational drug — leave it

Answer

Only doctors can give it

Answer

Use it instead of CPR

Night out gone wrong — free online first aid refresher | Brity®