Update Your First Aid Kit

By Cassie Johnson

Do you have a first aid kit at home or in your car? Having a firstaid kit on hand has many advantages. You have everything you need from burns to bleeding in one compact case. By treating wounds quickly, the risk of infection is greatly reduced. Sometimes, injuries are messy. In the event of serious bleeding, you can help stop blood loss before it gets out of control.

A typical first-aid kit includes items such as examination gloves, bandages and gauze pads in multiple sizes, medical tape, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, cold compress, elastic bandages, and tweezers. Check and restock your kit regularly. Some items may never get used, but others such as Band-Aids and alcohol wipes are used frequently. If not used, alcohol wipes may dry out and bandages may lose their adhesive. Make sure you have fresh supplies so you are prepared in case of an emergency.

With opioid overdoses on the rise across the country, many agencies are uniting to encourage adding Naloxone to your first-aid kit.

What is Naloxone?

Naloxone is commonly known as Narcan or Kloxxado. It is a nasal spray that will only help someone experiencing an opioid overdose. It will not affect someone who is not. Narcan works by targeting the same brain receptors as opioids, it blocks them from receiving the opiates which temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose until medical help arrives.

“The increase of Fentanyl in the local drug supply means all drugs are at risk of being contaminated,” said Cynthia Turner, Certified Prevention Specialist and Program Director with Four Rivers Regional Prevention Center. “People who use illicit drugs are not the only ones at risk. It can happen to anyone.”

Who Can Take Naloxone?

Narcan is safe for all ages, including children. It is also safe for pregnant women as it will not harm or have an effect on the baby.

Even if the person is diabetic, takes heart, blood pressure, or blood thinner medication, it is still safe to give them Narcan. It’s even safe for your pets! There is no maximum dosage and it can be administered every two to three minutes until medical help arrives or the victim is responsive.

“When in doubt, administer the Naloxone because it will not hurt or have negative side effects whatsoever on the person receiving it. Your decision to give it to them could truly save their life,” Turner told me.

What to Do

Learn to recognize the symptoms of an overdose because a quick response is crucial for saving lives. If you suspect someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, call 911 immediately and then administer Naloxone.

“Sometimes, witnesses may not call 911 because they’re afraid of being arrested or prosecuted,” said Turner. “Kentucky’s Good Samaritan Law (KRS 218A.133) protects witnesses and bystanders against prosecution when calling 911 to report a drug overdose.”

To administer the spray, gently insert the tip of the nozzle into one nostril until your fingers on either side of the nozzle are against the bottom of the person’s nose. Press the plunger firmly to release the spray. Remove the tip from the nostril as soon as the dose has been given.

Where to Find Narcan

There are several locations to locally obtain FREE Narcan. It is available at the Purchase District Health Department, Turning Point Recovery

Symptoms of an opioid overdose can include the following:

• Extremely pale and clammy face

• Limp body

• Struggling to breathe or not breathing

• ‘Pin point’ pupils or pupils that are abnormally small

• Purple or blue fingernails and lips

• Vomiting or making ‘gurgling’ sounds

• Unresponsive

• Slow breathing and heart rate

Center, and the McCracken County Public Library. It can also be obtained from certain pharmacies. To find a pharmacy near you, scan the QR code on this page or visit odcp.ky.gov/stop-overdoses/Pages/ Locations.aspx

If you or someone you know is concerned about the possible contamination of pills with Fentanyl, the Purchase District Health Department and Turning Point Recovery Center have free Fentanyl test strips available. You can reach Turning Point at 270.444.3621, or Purchase District Health Department at 270.444.9625 x.191.

Besides having one at home, it is a good idea to have a first-aid kit on hand in other bags we carry such as a purse, diaper bag, briefcase, or gym bag. Cuts, scrapes, and sprains aren’t the only injuries we need to prepare for. Adding Naloxone to your first-aid kit could mean the difference between life and death.

An opioid overdose is not to be taken lightly. The Purchase District Health Department, Purchase Area Opioid Task Force, McCracken County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy, Four Rivers Behavioral Health-Regional Prevention Center, Turning Point Recovery Community Center, and other local agencies have all joined together to help fight opioid overdose.

If you would like to learn more about Narcan, contact the Purchase Area Opioid Task Force and ask about their free training. You can visit purchasehealthconnections.com/narcan-training. Additionally, the Four Rivers Regional Prevention Center offers Opioid Toolkit training tailored to different audiences through the Kentucky State Opioid Response grant. Email clodge@4rbh.org for information. 