Policy Details Page
Regulation 3424R
Students
Opioid Related Overdose Reversal
Opioid overdose reversal medication and rescue breathing are evidence-based interventions known to result in positive outcomes for individuals experiencing an opioid related overdose. The district shall utilize the Opioid Related Overdose Policy Guidelines & Training in the School Setting published by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Opioids and Overdose
An opioid overdose may occur intentionally or in many cases unintentionally after injection, ingestion, or inhalation of an opioid. Assessing an individual for responsiveness and breathing is critical to a successful outcome of a person experiencing an opioid overdose. As provided in the guidance, a few quick ways to determine this are:
- Shout their name and shake them
- Rub knuckles hard on the breastbone in the middle of the chest or on the upper lip of the individual.
If the person responds to the stimuli, assume an overdose has not yet occurred. However, emergency medical services should be notified. Remain with the individual and continue to assess for responsiveness and breathing until help arrives. It is important to monitor the person and try to keep the individual awake and alert. If the person does not respond to hearing their name, being shook, or having knuckles rubbed on their breast bone or upper lip, assume they may be experiencing an opioid overdose.
An opioid overdose requires immediate medical attention. It is essential to have a trained medical professional assess the condition of a person experiencing an overdose. All schools are expected to activate emergency medical services in a case of a suspected overdose. Naloxone is effective only if there are opioids involved in the overdose. Naloxone will not reverse an overdose involving alcohol, benzodiazepines, or cocaine. Washington’s Good Samaritan Law provides some protections when calling 911 to save a life, even if drugs are at the scene according to RCW 69.50.315. The victim and person calling 911 cannot be prosecuted for simple possession. The District shall follow the Washington Department of Health’s steps for administering naloxone for drug overdose. (https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/150-126-NaloxoneInstructions.pdf)
Obtaining and Maintaining Opioid Overdose Medication
In alignment with the statewide standing order for intranasal or auto-injection intramuscular forms of naloxone, the district will obtain and maintain those forms of opioid overdose reversal medication exclusively.
The district may seek to obtain opioid overdose reversal medication through donations from manufacturers, non-profit organizations, hospitals, and local health jurisdictions. The district may also purchase opioid overdose reversal medication directly from companies or distributers at discounted pricing. The district must maintain written documentation of its good faith effort to obtain opioid overdose reversal medication from these sources.
A school administrator at each school as outlined in Policy 3424, shall ensure that the opioid overdose reversal medication is stored safely and consistently with the manufacture’s guidelines. School administrators will also make sure that an adequate inventory of opioid overdose reversal medication is maintained with reasonably projected demands. Medication should be routinely assessed to ensure enough time for reacquiring the medication prior to the expiration date.
Opioid overdose reversal medication shall be clearly labeled in an unlocked, easily accessible cabinet in a supervised location. Consider storing opioid overdose reversal medication in the same location as other rescue medications. Expiration dates should be documented on an appropriate log. Additional materials (e.g. barrier masks, gloves, etc.) associated with responding to an individual with a suspected opioid overdose can be stored with the medication.
Training
The district will ensure each school has at least one personnel member trained who can distribute or administer opioid overdose reversal medication. As soon as practical, a second personnel member will become an additional trained responder should the other be unavailable.
Training for designated trained responders will occur annually prior to the beginning of each school year and throughout the school year as needed. Training may take place through a variety of platforms, including online or in a more conventional classroom setting. Training may occur in small groups or conducted one-on-one and may be offered by nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, or local public health agencies. A licensed registered professional nurse who is employed or contracted by the district may train the designated trained responders on the administration of the opioid overdose reversal medication consistent with OSPI’s guidelines and this policy/procedure.
The district will maintain a log of all designated trained responders for each school. The log will include a list of all persons who are designated trained responders, a list of their trainings with the date and location of the training and the name of the trainer.
Individuals who have been directly prescribed opioid overdose reversal medication according to RCW 69.41.095 lawfully possess and administer opioid overdose reversal medication, based on their personal prescription. However, such “self-carrying” individuals must either show proof of training as verified by a licensed registered professional nurse employed or contracted by the district or participate in district training. These self-carrying individuals do not count toward the designated trained responders at each school.
Liability
The district’s and practitioner’s liability are limited as described in RCW 69.41.095.
WSSDA model procedure 3424P approved with modifications
Approval Date: 2/16/2021
- 3424R
- opioid
- policy
- regulation
- reversal