SOMERVILLE FIRE DEPT. FULLY EQUIPPED WITH NARCAN

SOMERVILLE – Mayor Joseph A.

Curtatone and Chief Fire Engineer Kevin Kelleher announced this week that all

Somerville Fire Department companies are equipped with nasal Naloxone (Narcan),

a prescription medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. In a joint

effort with the Cambridge Health Alliance, Cataldo Ambulance, and the

Somerville Board of Health and Trauma Response Network, Somerville Firefighters

completed training on administering the prescription to victims of drug

overdose. In March, Gov. Deval Patrick declared a public health emergency in

Massachusetts due to the growing epidemic of opioid addition and increasing

rates of fatal overdose.

“There is a public health

emergency in the Commonwealth as it relates to opioid use and overdose, and the

City of Somerville is far from immune to the challenges of addiction,” said

Mayor Curtatone. “Over the last three months, we have lost several residents to

this terrible disease, and though we know we must come together as a region to

combat addiction and to find more and better ways to increase access to support

services and resources, ensuring that our first responders are trained and

equipped with tools like Narcan can greatly increase our ability to save lives

and work to provide those necessary supports at the local level.”

“Our firefighters are often the

first on the scene, which is why we felt it was critical to ensure all of our

companies are trained and equipped with Narcan. Those extra seconds or minutes

saved can sometimes make all the difference in our ability to save a life,”

said Chief Kelleher. “Just this past month in fact, we were able to rescue an

overdose victim by administering Narcan. We all always hope it never comes to

an overdose, but when it does, we want to have every possible tool to help that

individual on hand.”

The Somerville Fire Department

has partnered with the Cambridge Heath Alliance (CHA) to purchase Narcan

directly through its pharmaceutical companies at discounted rates. Other

medical supplies and kits will be purchased through separate vendors. Chief

Medical Officer of CHA, Doctor Assaad Sayah, agreed to provide the necessary

medical oversight for the program with Dr. Jordan Wagner assigned as the

medical control physician for the Somerville Fire Department. Initial training

was conducted by Cataldo Ambulance Inc.

Narcan Training for Community

Members

The

City of Somerville Health Department and the Somerville Office of Prevention,

in cooperation with Teen Empowerment and Save Our Somerville, recently hosted a

free How to Save a Life workshop and discussion on substance abuse,

prescription drug misuse, and education, as well as strategies for support

systems and treatment, recovery, and coping mechanisms for victims and

families. The workshop also included training in Narcan administration for

community members. To receive notification of the next workshop, please contact

Patty Contente at 617-625-6600 ext. 4325, or email PContente@somervillema.gov

If you or anyone you know is

seeking support or resources for addressing drug addiction, additional

resources include:

• ·        
  
  Massachusetts
  
  Substance Use Helpline: 1-800-327-5050
• ·        
  
  Families Anonymous @ 121 Washington St., Medford. Meets
  
  Tuesday 7 p.m.  781-727-1803
• ·        
  
  Learn 2 Cope @
  
  Spaulding Hospital, 1575 Cambridge St., Cambridge. Meets Monday 7 p.m.
  
  508-738-5148. Use main entrance and follow signs to the 3rd Floor
  
  Chapel. If you have questions, stop at the reception desk. Free visitor
  
  parking at Lot E on Hovey Avenue.

·        

See

more at: http://www.somervillema.gov/departments/health/%252Foffice-of-prevention/scap/resources