Grant funds lifesaving overdose revival drug
Naloxone syringes and Project DAWN, or Death Avoidance With Naloxone, kits that include syringes, face shields and nasal atomizers are being distributed to several area EMS departments this month through a grant received by the Logan County Health District. (EXAMINER PHOTOS | MANDY LOEHR) |
Four local emergency medical services departments and the people they serve will be the beneficiaries of a grant received by the Logan County Health District to fight the local drug epidemic.
About two months ago, the LCHD was awarded $1,800 through the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services’ Community Innovations grant program that has the goal of enhancing access to naloxone, sometimes known by its trade name, Narcan.
Naloxone blocks the effects of opiates and opioids and can quickly allow an overdose victim to breathe again. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office reports that 10,500 doses of naloxone were administered in Ohio during 2012.
The grant has afforded the health district with the chance to purchase naloxone, which was ordered Jan. 8 and was received Monday, Nursing Director Kay Schroer said.
The naloxone will be distributed locally to Bellefontaine EMS, Indian Lake EMS, Bokescreek EMS and Riverside EMS departments. With a grant likely to be awarded again next fiscal year in July, the program could be opened up to other departments as well, the nursing director noted.
“I’m thrilled that we received this grant; it’s not very often that money is just given to us like this for something that is so needed,” Mrs. Schroer said. “The grant is a very simple one with not very many forms to fill out.”
Logan County Health District Nursing Director Kay Schroer, left, and Bellefontaine Fire Chief Andy Fissel check out boxes of naloxone syringes. |
Read complete story in Saturday’s Examiner.
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