Jun 7, 2016 By Harry Funk 3 min read

Upper St. Clair School District soon will have a policy for use of naloxone as an antidote for opioid overdoses.

The school board on June 6 gave a first reading of Policy 6022, Administering Naloxone, with the second reading and adoption planned for June 21.

“This will allow us to do the things we need to do, to acquire the medications and do the property training, and have everything read to go at the start of the school year,” Superintendent Patrick O’Toole said.

Administrators, he explained, followed guidelines provided by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association’s Legal Services Team for school districts considering applicable policies.

Along with training for staff members, Upper St. Clair’s policy covers topics including delegation of responsibility; acquisition, storage and disposal; and referral to law enforcement and parent notification.

With regard to administering the medication, the policy outlines steps for designated district personnel to take:

• Call for medical help immediately.

• Check for signs of opioid overdose.

• Perform initial rescue breathing, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if needed.

• Administer naloxone, as instructed in training.

• Continue the rescue breathing or CPR.

• Administer a second dose of Naloxone, if needed.

• Place the subject in recovery position.

• Stay with the individual until emergency medical help arrives.

• Cooperate with the emergency personnel who respond to the incident.

• Notify the building administrator or designee of the incident.

The action by Upper Clair and other school districts follows the signing into law of state Act 139 of 2014. Among the provisions of the act is granting immunity from prosecution for those who respond to and report overdoses.

Board member Harry Kunselman inquired about the relevance of that aspect of the legislation with regard to Upper St. Clair’s policy.

“Are we doing anything to educate the students, to provide information to our students, on what they should feel free to do in response to situations that they might encounter, even outside the presence of a staff person?” he asked.

O’Toole agreed with the concept, saying the district took a similar approach with policies on bullying.

“Children won’t self-report,” the superintendent said. “But they will report friends if they’re given the avenue and the training and encouragement to do so.”

Amy Pfender, director of student support services, said the training would include the role of counselors in dealing with opioid-related issues.

“Given the widespread concern within our community as how this may have impacted families already,” she explained, “we would be sensitive to that as we move forward in terms of working with our students, as well.”

To address issues, in the community at large, Upper St. Clair Township police now carry naloxone to administer to overdose victims.