Narcan

October 21, 2026, 10:38 AM

92fstech

If the cops were involved, he likely didn't have a choice and would have been sent to the hospital on an involuntary.

We have tons of those types around here. Eventually he'll do it when nobody's around to save his ass, and he'll be another statistic for the coroner to deal with. I like to remind myself that Narcan has allowed some junkies to survive and experience a wake-up call. I've met a few who have genuinely turned their lives around, and for that I'm grateful. For others, it just prolongs the inevitable (including all the angst and suffering that they inflict on themselves and everyone around them).

October 21, 2026, 08:23 PM

whanson_wi

What grinds my gears is that narcan is standard issue for so many, while epipens are not.

October 21, 2026, 09:42 PM

Appliance Brad

quote:
Originally posted by whanson_wi:
What grinds my gears is that narcan is standard issue for so many, while epipens are not.

Because for the most part, Naloxone (Narcan) is paid for out of opioid settlement funds.

I just picked up tonight a fresh set to replenish that in my truck bag which had expired.

As to 2000Z-71, when I'm working on the bus, I follow my protocols, just like any other patient I'm treating. That includes titrating to restore respirations. If fire. first responders get there ahead of us, They usually have be given enough to not only do that, but make them able to refuse. I'd rather they go to the ER (sorry) where they can be observed so if the narcan wears off and they stop breathing again, somebody is there to repeat the process.

I treat them the same as the COPDer, who won't stop smoking ( the better ones take their cannula off, the bad ones just pinch off the flow while they smoke. Or the diabetic I push an amp of D50 on, who tells me they don't have a meter or strips and have no idea the last time they took their own blood sugar. Cannabis Hyperemesis? Ypup, start a line, 4 of Zofran, lets get you up to the hospital.

I'm EMS, not a social worker or counselor. My job is despite bad decisions ( Oh yea, you weigh 450 pounds) to keep them alive and transport if indicated. Clear the last and back in service.

I carry Narcan off duty because everyone deserves a second or hundreth chance at recovery.

October 21, 2026, 10:17 PM

dry-fly

Thank you guys for what you do…. I’m so glad I’m not in that world anymore.

October 22, 2026, 11:37 AM

RNshooter

quote:
Originally posted by Appliance Brad:
quote:
Originally posted by whanson_wi:
What grinds my gears is that narcan is standard issue for so many, while epipens are not.

Because for the most part, Naloxone (Narcan) is paid for out of opioid settlement funds.

I just picked up tonight a fresh set to replenish that in my truck bag which had expired.

As to 2000Z-71, when I'm working on the bus, I follow my protocols, just like any other patient I'm treating. That includes titrating to restore respirations. If fire. first responders get there ahead of us, They usually have be given enough to not only do that, but make them able to refuse. I'd rather they go to the ER (sorry) where they can be observed so if the narcan wears off and they stop breathing again, somebody is there to repeat the process.

I treat them the same as the COPDer, who won't stop smoking ( the better ones take their cannula off, the bad ones just pinch off the flow while they smoke. Or the diabetic I push an amp of D50 on, who tells me they don't have a meter or strips and have no idea the last time they took their own blood sugar. Cannabis Hyperemesis? Ypup, start a line, 4 of Zofran, lets get you up to the hospital.

I'm EMS, not a social worker or counselor. My job is despite bad decisions ( Oh yea, you weigh 450 pounds) to keep them alive and transport if indicated. Clear the last and back in service.

I carry Narcan off duty because everyone deserves a second or hundreth chance at recovery.

Re: cannabis hyperemesis: Zofran hardly works. A hot shower does. I wish we would just discharge them home immediately with "take a hot shower" as discharge instructions. Instead, we usually put them in our shower.

You and we are the lifeguards at the shallow end of the gene pool. Darwin can suck it.

Bruce

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