Four programs at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center recently underwent Narcan training. Students in EMS/Fire Science, Security and Law Enforcement, Certified Personal Trainer and Health Occupations Technician participated. “These students when they are certified and/or employed in their chosen fields will encounter people that are on an opioid overdose,” explains EMS/Fire Science teacher Rodney Hogg. “In Personal Training, patients may be on pain killers from surgery, our Health Occupations Technicians will be working with residents in nursing homes on various medications and Security and Law Enforcement and EMS will be encountering many calls with opioid overdoses.”
Taking Narcan (naloxone) training is crucial because it empowers individuals to act as proactive bystanders, enabling them to recognize, respond to, and reverse an opioid within minutes, potentially saving a life. With over 1,500 people in the U.S. overdosing on opioids weekly, this training is an essential component to save a life. Several staff members volunteered to take the training during their lunch break as well.
Mr. Hogg says the key reasons for the training were: saving lives, rapid response, building confidence to increase comfort and willingness to act, reducing fear and hesitation in emergency situations, easy administration and safety assurance. “We want to thank the Niagara County Health Department’s Tracy Fricano-Chalmers and Bryan Tadlock for providing the training,” he added.