West Virginia

Department of Health, Department of Health Facilities, and Department of Human Services

Department of Health
Department of Health Facilities
Department of Human Services

First Responder Educators to Receive Training on Naloxone

5/12/2015

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ Bureau for Public Health today announced training for those who will be teaching first responders how to administer Naloxone to individuals suspected of an opioid overdose.  Naloxone is a drug used to help counter the effects of respiratory depression caused by opioids like heroin.
 
“Administering Naloxone to a person suspected of an opioid overdose allows time for first responders to transport that patient to a hospital to receive appropriate medical attention,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, Commissioner and State Health Officer for the Bureau for Public Health.  “It’s one lifesaving tool that first responders can have to immediately help someone that may be in a life threatening situation.”
 
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin made Senate Bill 335, the “Access to Opioid Antagonists Act,” one of his priorities during the 2015 legislative session.  The bill allows for initial responders and others to possess and administer Naloxone to someone who is suspected of an opioid overdose.  The training, provided by DHHR’s Office of Emergency Medical Services, is required by law and calls for first responders to successfully complete required training before administering Naloxone.
 
“Our priority is to provide educational sessions to Emergency Medical Service agency educators who regularly provide training to their members or staff in their community,” said Gupta.
 
The Naloxone administration “Train the Trainer” program will be at no cost to attendees.  Classes will be held in six regions of the state and space is limited. 
 
Once the Emergency Medical Service agency educators have been trained, they will be providing first responders the training needed to be able to administer Naloxone and to be afforded liability protection as indicated under the law. 
 
Training dates, times and locations for agency educators/trainers are listed below:
 
Mineral Wells Region:   
May 18, 2015, 10:00 a.m., WV EMS Technical Support Network (TSN) Office in Mineral Wells
 
Huntington Region:        
May 20, 2015, 10:00 a.m., Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority’s (KCEAA) Auditorium in Charleston
 
Beckley Region:
May 21, 2015, 10:00 a.m., Beckley Mine Academy Room G-214 in Beckley
 
Martinsburg Region:                            
May 22, 2015, 10:00 a.m., WV EMS Technical Support Network (TSN) Office in Martinsburg
 
Wheeling Region:                                  
May 19, 2015, 9:00 a.m., Wheeling Medical Park Hospital Conference Room C (Tower 4)
 
Fairmont Region:
May 19, 2015, 10:00 a.m., Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) 7 Office in Fairmont
 
More information about the training is available online at www.wvoems.org or by calling 888-747-8367 or 304-558-3956.

Contact Information

Allison C. Adler, DHHR Communications Director, (304) 558-7899 or Allison.C.Adler@wv.gov
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