Sudden Death
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Sudden Death 6: Dealing With Sudden Death
The most important thing to remember when someone around you
experiences sudden death, is that in the vast majority of cases,
the victim can be saved. Do not just give up. In the song
"Street Hassle" by Lou Reed, the narrator says,
When someone turns that blue
It is a universal truth
And you just know that bitch
Will never fuck again.
The problem with this is that it is not true, and the woman in the
song would probably survive if the others around her were more
knowledgeable and (probably more important) caring.
Most "official" sources will tell you that the first thing
you should do in the event of a sudden death is call 9-1-1. I think
that this is a judgment call. There are situations when you should
call 9-1-1, but in most cases it is not necessary. Below is a table
and a list of guidelines on what you should do if someone you are
with has a negative reaction after ingesting heroin. But bear in mind
that these are my opinions based upon my experiences. You
may want to be more conservative, and always call 9-1-1. It is up
to you; in the end, what is most important is helping the person in
danger.
|
HEROIN helper Recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
|
State of Victim
|
What You Should Do
|
|
|
|
Frothing at the mouth
|
Call 9-1-1
|
|
Stopped Heart
|
Perform CPR
|
|
Stopped Breathing
|
Perform CPR
|
|
Stopped Heart (3+ minutes)
|
Call 9-1-1
|
|
Stopped Breathing (3+ minutes)
|
Call 9-1-1
|
|
Convulsing
|
Put in safe place
|
|
Convulsing (3+ minutes)
|
Call 9-1-1
|
|
Labored Breathing
|
Watch closely
|
|
Can't wake
|
Watch closely
|
|
|
|
Important: CPR should only be performed by someone who is
properly instructed; improperly administered CPR can harm the
person being helped.
|
by Dr. H © 2001
Last Modified: January 2004
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
angry *
curious *
worried *
user *
sick *
bored
my books *
locate *
contact *
meta site *
letters
|