By Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office

Fentanyl is hard to detect. You can’t see it, taste it, or smell it. A tiny amount—as little as two grains of salt—is enough to kill someone. The number of fentanyl overdose deaths in Wisconsin grew by 97 percent from 2019 (651) to 2021 (1,280).

How to recognize an overdose (of any opioid drug)

*Unresponsiveness or unconsciousness.

*Slowed or stopped breathing.

*Snoring or gurgling sounds.

*Cold or clammy skin.

*Discolored lips or fingernails.

How to respond to an overdose

-Try to wake the person up.

-Call their name or yell, “I’m going to call 911!” If they don’t respond to your voice, rub the middle of their chest with your knuckles.

-Call 911 right away if you can’t wake them up.

-Follow the directions of the 911 operator. Tell the 911 operator if the person has slowed or stopped breathing.

-Start rescue breathing if the person’s breath is slow or has stopped.

Make sure the person’s mouth is not blocked, pinch their nose, and breathe into their mouth every five seconds. Continue this for 30 seconds. Need help? Follow the directions of the 911 operator.

-Give NARCAN® if you have it.

Remove the NARCAN® device from the package. Put the tip in either nostril until your fingers tough their nose, then press the plunger. Continue rescue breathing if the person’s breath is slow or has stopped. If there is no response after two to three minutes, give NARCAN® again. Learn more about naloxone and how to get it.

-Put the person in the recovery position.

Once the person is breathing again, put them on their side with their top leg and arm crossed over the body to prevent choking. Stick around and keep an eye on the person until emergency help arrives.