Woodstock Police Officers Receive Naloxone Training

As part of its ongoing mission to enhance the quality of life for residents, officers with the Woodstock Police Department will soon be trained and equipped with multiple life saving methods and tools.

During the week of Sept. 8, all officers within the agency will participate in training on First Aid/CPR, AEDs and Narcan, a brand-name form of naloxone, spokesperson Brittany Duncan said in a news release.

As part of First Aid/CPR training, training on the use of AEDs, or Automated External Defibrillators, will also take place.

The Woodstock Police Department recently acquired five AEDs, which will be deployed in patrol cars upon completion of training.

The Woodstock Public Safety Foundation, a nonprofit organization, assisted with the cost of the AED’s by providing $4,000 towards the purchase.

“This is a terrific program that directly benefits the Woodstock community by providing critical life-saving equipment to Woodstock Police Department officers who are often the first to arrive on scene,“ said Scott O’Meara, president of the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation. “Saving the life of just one person will prove the value of this nominal investment.”

Dr. Jill Mabley, medical director for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services, will oversee the training of all Woodstock officers on Narcan/naloxone.

Naloxone is an opioid receptor blocker which is used to reduce drug overdoses through nasal administration of the antidote. When administered quickly, it results in temporarily reversing the overdose.

It’s widely used by medical emergency personnel across the country and law enforcement agencies are starting to deploy the antidote to its uniform officers.

In 2013, Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services responded to 123 overdose calls and administered 50 naloxone doses.

This year, they have responded to 100 overdoses and 43 have received the antidote. The medication is useful to temporarily reverse an overdose of heroin, codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine and oxycodone.

Upon the conclusion of this training, all officers will be equipped with naloxone while on duty.

“Patrol officers are often first to arrive on scene to an emergency call,” said Police Chief Calvin Moss. “Adding this life saving medication to the officers’ tools enhances our ability to help and protect our citizens.”

(Photo: Woodstock Officer Yvonne Letzin takes part in the training of naloxone at Woodstock Police Department’s headquarters. Credit: Woodstock Police Department)