It is the policy of the Spirit Lake Schools to provide all students a safe and nurturing environment. The school district recognizes that many factors, including the use and misuse of prescription painkillers, can lead to the dependence on and addiction to opioids. This addiction can lead to a potential overdose and possible death among the public (students, staff, and visitors to the school district). To recognize and respond to potential life-threatening opioid overdose and deaths, the Spirit Lake School District wants to establish a plan to address this potentially life-threatening opioid overdose. Naloxone (Narcan) is a medication that can reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug. Rapid administration of Naloxone may be lifesaving in patients with an overdose due to opioids. It is both safe and effective, with no potential for abuse. Naloxone has been used by paramedics and in the emergency room for decades.
To treat a case of suspected opioid overdose in a school setting, any school nurse, or those trained, may administer Naloxone during an emergency to any students, staff or visitor suspected of having an opioid-related drug overdose, whether or not there is a previous history of opioid abuse. Iowa’s Good Samaritan Law, found under Iowa Code Section 613.17, states “a person, who in good faith renders emergency care of assistance without compensation, shall not be liable for any civil damages for acts or omissions occurring at the place of an emergency or accident or while the person is in transit to or from the emergency or accident or while the person is at or being moved to or from an emergency shelter- unless such acts or omissions constitute recklessness or wilful and wanton misconduct.” This indicates that any staff member or student who assists a person or persons who show signs of an overdose on school property and assists this person by administering aid in some form will be covered under the good Samaritan Law if they are doing so in good faith and for the safety of the patient.
Definition of Opioid Overdose
Opioid overdose occurs when the amount of opioid in the body is so great the individual becomes unresponsive to stimuli and breathing becomes inadequate. Lack of oxygen affects vital organs, including the heart and brain, leading to unconsciousness, coma, and eventually death. Naloxone/NARCAN is indicated for the reversal of opioid overdose in the presence of respiratory depression or unresponsiveness.
Sign/Symptoms of Opioid Overdose
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BODY SYSTEM |
SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF AN OPIOID OVERDOSE |
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Mouth/Throat |
Loud, uneven snoring or gurgling noises |
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Lungs |
Shallow, slow breaths ( fewer than 10 per minute) or not breathing at all. |
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Skin |
Pale, blue or gray, cold and wet skin |
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Heart |
Slow or erratic pulse (heartbeat) - blue lips or fingertips (lack of oxygen) |
|
Mental |
Unresponsive to stimuli such as noise or sternal rub - Unconsciousness |
NARCAN/naloxone is a nasal spray in a one piece pre-assembled nasal device.
Procedure
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Attempt to rouse and stimulate the student/patient (perform sternal rub by making a fist; rub your knuckles firmly up and down breast bone).
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Call 911.
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Notify the school nurse. (You will be following the nurse’s guidance from here on)
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If possible, monitor and record respirations and heart rate. Note suspected opiate overdose as evidenced by pinpoint pupils, depressed mental status, etc
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The School Nurse (during the school day) will guide the administration of Naloxone/NARCAN as necessary for trained individuals and per protocol.
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Start rescue breathing if not breathing or CPR if there is no pulse.
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Stay with the person until medical help arrives. Notify EMS of Naloxone/NARCAN administration.
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Notify the parent and school administrators if a student.
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Approved: 3/13/23 Reviewed: Revised: