Campus security officers at Fanshawe College will now be better equipped to assist students suffering from a drug overdose.
The college announced on Tuesday its special constables are now carrying Naloxone, a nasal spray that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
“We want our community to have the same access to this life-saving tool that is available to community members in the London region,” said Shawn Rutkauskas, assistant manager of Campus Security Services. “Continuing to provide emergency response to medical calls and now carrying Naloxone kits is a way for us to help ensure the safety of everyone on campus.”
The college consulted with the Middlesex London Health Unit before moving forward with the initiative and all special constables have been trained on how to properly administer Naloxone.
Staff and students who encounter someone on campus experiencing symptoms of an opioid overdose are urged to contact campus security immediately.
London police officers have been carrying Naloxone kits since June 2018. They administered it to 111 people, saving 103 lives over a 10-month period last year. Ontario Provincial Police were equipped with Naloxone in September 2017. Since then they have saved 177 lives using the spray.