Be-SAFE: Responding to Opioid Overdose Victims Outside the Emergency Department

The Be-SAFE process originated as a question this author posed in regard to scene safety when attempting to extricate an opioid overdose victim from a private vehicle outside the emergency department (ED) entrance. No such safe standard of care for ED nurses currently existed. Through a collaborative team effort, a process titled Be-SAFE was developed to serve as a standard of care in regard to this dilemma while using law enforcement as an additional aide towards securing the scene. An iBook was developed and research was conducted using this technology as a method to train members of ED teams in the Be-SAFE process. Multiple educational offerings were delivered at ED’s across an organizational service line in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pre and post-tests were evaluated after utilizing the iBook and performing hands on demonstrations. The research has been disseminated in a variety of ways, being presented at local, regional, and national conferences. The research has been published in two scholarly articles. The iBook is offered free to members of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) around the world