By Megan Yang
Narcan is being placed in VUSD schools as a response to a nationwide epidemic of fentanyl overdoses. Narcan reverses the side effects of an opioid overdose.
VISALIA, CA- On Monday, December 5, 2022, Visalia Unified School District [VUSD] distributed naloxone, better known as Narcan, to all VUSD schools.
Narcan is commonly used by first responders and medical providers to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Opioids affect the part of the brain that regulates breathing. Examples of opioids include oxycodone, fentanyl, hydrocodone, heroin, and morphine.
If a person takes a high enough dose, their breathing can slow or stop. This is known as an overdose.
Narcan boxes were placed at VUSD schools as a response to a nationwide epidemic of fentanyl overdoses.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used to treat severe pain resulting from conditions such as advanced cancer. Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
Training is offered to all health services staff, starting with school nurses, treatment nurses, and anyone helping in the health office. Training is also being provided to administration.
Once these groups have been fully trained, the training will be provided to any staff member who chooses or requests the training.
It will also be added to the first aid training that staff members are already given. School nurses are in charge of the training, “but it is not mandatory for anyone.”
Kendra Benson, Redwood High School nurse, says, “There is a big push right now in California to do whatever we can to help save the lives of anyone having symptoms of overdose that can potentially show a response to fentanyl.”
Redwood currently has two Narcan storage boxes. One is located on Main Campus in the Administration Office, and the other is on Sierra Vista Campus.
Benson “hopes we never have to use it on this campus and students are aware of the risk and the danger associated with fentanyl. It’s being placed in the most unsuspecting things.”
Benson says, “I think it is a very good thing. There are no negative side effects associated with giving Narcan, so it is an extremely safe drug. The biggest risk is not giving it for an overdose.”
Analogy By Benson: One tiny grain of sugar is the equivalent of fentanyl it takes to kill a person.
Signs of an opioid overdose include:
- The person’s face is extremely pale and/or feels clammy to the touch
- Their body goes limp
- Their fingernails or lips have a purple or blue color
- They start vomiting or making gurgling noises
- They cannot be awakened or are unable to speak
- Their breathing or heartbeat slows or stops
If you suspect somebody is overdosing, contact staff immediately so Narcan can be administered.
For more information, visit the National Library of Medicine’s website.
Megan Yang
Megan Yang ('24) is in her 4th year of Journalism. She is a writer and editor for the News section and enjoys writing for the Redwood Gigantea.
Tags: fentanyl, megan yang, narcan, news, rangers, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood news, redwood rangers, rhs, visalia ca, visalia news, vusd, VUSD board, vusd board of education
