The Friends of the Hamilton North Public Library and Cicero Kiwanis Club cordially invite the public to attend a free education and training seminar on the life-saving drug naloxone from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30 at the Hamilton North Public Library in Cicero.
Ginder
Jim Ginder, Health Education Specialist, Hamilton County Health Department, returns to Cicero to share how to save lives through administering the opiate antidote naloxone, which is sold under the drug name Narcan. The session provides the opportunity to learn about this growing problem and the impact on the community.
Ginder, who is the Health Education Specialist for the Hamilton County Health Department, has dedicated the better part of more than two decades to accessing local health needs and developing presentations on all topics related to public health and safety education.
A grant provided by the Indiana Department of Health for the Narcan treatment helps provide the funding for Ginder to educate lay people around the county about the opioid drug problem, signs and symptoms of use and abuse, prevention tips and how to administer Narcan in the case of an overdose. Those who attend the entire one-hour training session will be given one dose of the medicine which they can keep or donate it to their local police or fire department.
“While we may be the healthiest county in the state, we’re not immune from this nationwide problem,” explained Ginder. “This problem, which kills around 115 people a day nationwide, extends into every corner of our county, and it’s going to take every one of us to fight it.”
For those who don’t plan to utilize their dose, a representative from the Cicero Fire Department will be on hand to accept the doses for emergency personnel to use. On average, the Cicero Fire Department administers one to two doses of Narcan per month. Today, it costs the department about $60 per dose. Before the opioid epidemic, the cost per dose was just under $4.
Cicero Fire Chief Lance Overholser said their department has it in its protocol to consider administering Narcan if a patient is found unconscious of unknown origin because it is effective in an opioid overdose with no known side effects. It simply stops the effect of the opioid without harming the patient.
“No one plans to overdose but it can and does happen,” continued Ginder. “Naloxone has no effect on non-opioid overdoses (e.g., cocaine, benzodiazepines, or alcohol).”
Libby Miller, a registered nurse and resident of Cicero attended the March 14 training session at Red Bridge Park in Cicero to learn more about this issue. “The program was well worth attending,” said Miller. “My biggest takeaway was how quickly and easily anyone of any age can slip into problematic and addictive behavior through prescription pain medication.”
“We hope members of our community will come out in force to take advantage of this one-hour educational workshop right in our backyard,” said Emily Pearson. “This is a timely topic and an opportunity to be trained to potentially save a life during a medical emergency with this proven treatment. Communities are key to making a difference and reducing the upward trend of opioid addiction.”