Paola School Board members have approved a policy that will allow school staff to administer the opioid blocker, narcan, in the event of a drug overdose. The School Board members made the decision during their March 6th meeting.
Superintendent Matt Meek says it’s obviously a precaution they hope they never have to utilize, but the recent rise in opioid use, particularly fentanyl, has made it an issue school districts are needing to review. Paola High School nurse, Glenda Kinaman, told the Board the Kansas Legislature passed a bill allowing schools to utilize this program. Although emergency medical professionals and law enforcement officers typically have narcan on hand, Kinaman said school staff would likely be the first on the scene and could administer it quickly to a student or staff member suffering from an opioid overdose.
Meek said there could be one dose stored at Paola High School and another at Paola Middle School. Through the program, narcan would be provided at no cost to the district.
