U-Turn

Do you want to save a life? This application is for people who use opiate drugs, their friends, family members, addiction workers, homelessness staff and others concerned with their welfare. People who use opiates like heroin, morphine, codeine, fentanyl and methadone (whether these are prescribed or illicit) can be at risk of overdose. Many people who come across an overdosed person have little confidence or knowledge of what to do when faced with such a scenario. This app is designed to help reduce the risk of an overdose happening and prevent loss of life if one does occur outside of a hospital setting. The aim is to give the overdosed person the maximum chance to survive. We (U-Turn Training, Consultancy & Empowerment) want to help you to prevent any more unnecessary deaths from this form of overdose. It therefore contains 5 sections including ‘Your Guide’ and ‘It’s an Emergency’ as well as a ‘Useful Info’ section. The Guide is a learning resource like a training manual, preparing you to intervene effectively if an overdose ever occurs. The Emergency section is used when someone comes across a real opiate overdose. It gives interactive audio and visual advice assisted by large press-button options to help you manage the overdose prior to the arrival of emergency services. It will guide you through recognising opiate overdose, assessing risks to yourself, checking the person’s airway and for breathing correctly. Then it provides simple, easy-to-follow audio and visual advice on techniques such as putting the person in the recovery position or administering CPR and giving naloxone (an opiate reversal drug) if it is available. The guidance given is in line with reviewed best practice and the emerging evidence-base on overdose/resuscitation. It is appropriate for the UK and other countries which follow UK Basic Life Support protocols.