Peebles VFC to participate in naloxone program

Tribune-Review | Thursday, December 7, 2023 2:40 p.m.

Courtesy of Sherry Jo Matt

The drug naloxone helps reverse the effects of opiod overdoses. The nasal spray shown here contains Narcan, which is the brand name for naloxone.

The Peebles District Volunteer Fire Company Quick Response Service program begin participating in December in a naloxone “Leave Behind” program to support victims and families of opioid overdoses.

Sponsored by the state Department of Health, the statewide Leave Behind program provides a dose of naloxone, the opioid antidote, to patients who overdose on opioids but do not seek care at a hospital.

“While it may seem counterintuitive to some, the reality is that educating patients and families on how to treat overdoses and providing the tools to do so does reduce the amount of opioid-associated deaths,” said Sam Burke, medical officer.

The Peebles QRS responds to all severe emergency medical dispatches within its service area to provide first responder medical care and life-saving interventions before the arrival of an ambulance. Medically-trained personnel from Station 188 have responded to over 400 dispatches in 2023 alone, on top of over 700 fire and rescue calls.