Law enforcement officers and dogs in Harrison and Boone County have a new tool in their box thanks to a donation from Baxter Regional Medical Center.The Harrison Daily Times reports David Ethredge of Mountain Home, 14th Judicial District prosecuting attorney, and Mike Beam, director of market analysis and development at BRMC, delivered 84 Narcan kits to the agencies Friday.
Narcan is the brand name for the drug naloxone, a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in the case of overdose.
Each kit contains two doses of the antidote, a mask, gloves and instructions for use, although Ethredge said officers carrying Narcan kits will be trained for use.
The drug is delivered via nasal spray. Beam said the idea behind delivering the antidote is to give emergency medical services personnel a chance to get to the victim with further treatment.
Ethredge said he understands the need to help individuals who overdose on an opioid, but he has other concerns as well.
He related the story of an officer in Pennsylvania who had responded to a drug bust scene. He had apparently gotten opioid residue on his jacket, because when he was undressing at home he fell sick and died. Narcan could have saved him.
Ethredge says with the Narcan kits officers can be protected, which concerns him most.
Beam agreed. He said when he was being trained as an EMT, the instructor asked his students who the most important person in an emergency is. The students responded the patient, but he corrected them by saying the most important person is the responder: If something happens to him, there is no help for the patient.
And the antidote also works on K-9 units used to sniff for drugs on traffic stops and search warrant executions. Both Boone County and Harrison Police have two police dogs.
Ethredge extended gratitude to BRMC for the donation. He specifically mentioned Elizabeth Smith in the BRMC pharmacy for putting the kits together in plastic cases like those used for pistols to protect the contents.
BRMC technically doesnt cover Boone County, but Baxter County is part of Ethredges circuit. Beam said those county borders were easily crossed so officers could be protected.
Boone County Sheriff Mike Moore and Harrison Police Chief Paul Woodruff were on hand Friday, and they each took 42 of the kits for their departments. They said training on use would start as soon as possible.
Photo:
Mike Beam (left), director of market analysis and development at Baxter Regional Medical Center, and 14th Judicial Circuit Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge (right) delivered 84 Narcan kits Friday to (from left) Boone County Sheriff Mike Moore and Harrison Police Chief Paul Woodruff.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI