OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – In the ongoing battle against opioid overdoses, sheriff’s deputies in Winnebago County are now equipped with the antidote Narcan.
In a statement Thursday, the sheriff’s office says they’ve entered into a written agreement with a local doctor, and has trained deputies in administering a single dose mucosal-nasal spray in situations where they believe a person is overdosing. Also, deputies have been trained to ensure the patient gets follow-up medical care.
“Heroin is devastating to users, their families, their friends and to communities,” Sheriff John Matz said in a news release. “Our deputies have been to many overdose situations and have seen these devastating effects firsthand. By equipping our deputies with Narcan (brand naloxone), they have one more tool in their tool belt to potentially help families in saving their loved ones.”
The sheriff’s office says deputies who work in the jail also have access to naloxone.
Since the sheriff’s office is the only law enforcement agency in Winnebago County to have naloxone, deputies who have assignments outside the sheriff’s office have also been issued individual doses.
