Door Supervisor Saves Life with Naloxone Kit Ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day
Sheffield joins other Northern Drug Services to highlight need for greater naloxone availability
A Sheffield door supervisor has been praised after using naloxone training to save a man’s life outside a city centre bar – highlighting the importance of overdose awareness ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day (31 August).
Professional Security has taken an innovative approach, arranging for their door staff to be trained to carry naloxone kits by local drug service LikeWise Sheffield.
Charlie Smith, Head Door Supervisor at Professional Security, was on duty when a man collapsed on the street nearby. Acting quickly, Charlie recognised the signs of an opioid overdose and administered naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of opioids.
“It was weird to watch,” Charlie said. “He went from unconscious, to barely breathing, to sitting up and talking to us. Without the training, I’d only ever heard of naloxone on TV shows – but having it to hand made all the difference.”
The man was taken to hospital by paramedics and later recovered.
Likewise Sheffield is one of a network of services across Yorkshire and the North East – including Barnsley Recovery Steps, Calderdale Recovery Steps, County Durham Drug & Alcohol Recovery Service, Forward Leeds, New Vision Bradford and North Yorkshire Horizons – that are encouraging more people to be trained and prepared to save lives.
Jon Findlay, National Harm Reduction Lead for Waythrough, the lead charity partner in all of the above services, said: “Administering naloxone is often the difference between someone surviving an overdose or not. International Overdose Awareness Day reminds us that every life lost is preventable. It’s about equipping communities to respond with compassion and practical help until medical staff arrive.
“Naloxone is increasingly vital as synthetic opioids such as nitazines are now being found mixed into other substances, including benzodiazepines and crack cocaine, putting people at risk even if they do not see themselves as opioid users.
“This is a very contaminated and dangerous drugs market,” Jon added. “We need everybody – from the general public to frontline workers – to consider carrying naloxone.”
Professional Security has trained a number of its door staff across Sheffield in naloxone use, with plans to extend the training further. Managing Director of Hospitality Ben Levick said: “Our door supervisors are there to keep people safe, and that sometimes means responding to emergencies beyond the doors of a venue. Naloxone isn’t yet a standard requirement for SIA licensing or first aid, but we’ve invested in it because it saves lives. Charlie’s actions in Sheffield show just how crucial this training can be.”
Charlie now advocates for naloxone training to become part of standard first aid provision in the security industry.
“It’s a big relief to have naloxone so that if the worst case does happen, you’re prepared,” he said.
All seven recovery services across Yorkshire and the North East are urging people to mark International Overdose Awareness Day by signing up for free naloxone training, whether as a professional, a volunteer, or a member of the public.
International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.
