MVMA QUARTERLY - WINTER 2020
MVMA Animal Welfare Committee at work in the community.
MVMA Providing Educational Resources/ Opportunities for DHSS Narcan Project
T
he Missouri Veterinary Medical Association Animal Welfare Committee recognizes the strong bond between law enforcement officers and their canine partners. Missouri veterinarians play an important role in keeping these dogs healthy and responding to any emergency. Rarely, police canines may experience an opioid overdose in the field and require emergency treatment. The MVMA has investigated how we can best assist law enforcement officers with proper training to respond to an opioid emergency with their K9 with their local veterinarian. We also looked into how police officers are supplied with Narcan Kits and if there is a need for more of these kits. After polling Missouri Police Chiefs Association members and speaking with those in law enforcement we learned about a grant program through Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) called M.O.R.E. (Missouri Overdose Rescue and Education Project) that will provide any first responder with free Narcan after they complete training modules. https://health.mo.gov/safety/ems/more/ is the website for more information. All the training modules can be completed online. To participate in the MORE project all officers must complete the required training and the agency must enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. They typically provide 1 unit (1 unit – 1 box containing 2 doses) for each officer trained. MORE will also resupply as the Narcan get administered in the field.
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