The pandemic may have delayed, but not stopped, the UGDSB's plan to place naloxone kits in its schools.
Earlier this year, school board trustees approved the decision to add naloxone kits in UGDSB schools and board sites but the placement of those kits was put on hold due to the closure of schools and the large organizational effort that was required to prepare for school reopening.
“Now that our schools are up and running, board staff have reworked the implementation plan, run up a new timeline and a new process for training,” said Gary Slater, superintendent of education, at the board meeting Tuesday.
Training to correctly use the first aid naloxone kits — which reverse the effect of an opioid overdose — will begin at the end of November on the board’s SafeSchools platform in an online training online module format.
“We expect that all staff that wishes to be trained will have an opportunity to do so by the end of term one and ongoing training will be available to all staff at any time at our SafeSchools platform,” said Slater.
“That means that any staff that chooses to get new training or revisit the training again can do so at any time.”
He said once school administrators have been trained at the end of November, the board will provide opportunities for additional staff to be trained.
Last year, the board said that it sees the inclusion of naloxone kits in its schools as a proactive measure similar to having defibrillators on-site in the event they are needed which could be either during school hours or during community use after school hours.
Naloxone kits will be stored on walls which also hold defibrillators, making them accessible after hours. The naloxone kits come with a CPR mask which is used to cover the face when doing artificial respiration. The board will also carry the nasal spray version of naloxone (Narcan) in its 76 facilities with some schools having more kits than others, depending on their size.
“Once schools have been trained, the naloxone kits and the signage for those boxes will be delivered by our health and safety department and set up so it will be available in every automated external defibrillator box that's in the system,” said Slater.
Slater said the board’s protocol which was developed around overdose will also need some revisions to include information about naloxone kits.
