Council will consider an agreement Monday evening that would provide Centre Wellington Fire Rescue with free Naloxone kits through Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
A report going before council recommends delegating authority to the Township’s Managing Director of Community Services to sign an agreement with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, allowing the fire department to participate in the Public Health Naloxone Program.
The report says the opioid crisis continues to pose significant challenges across Ontario, and that timely administration of Naloxone can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose while patients wait for paramedics to arrive.
Under the agreement, Centre Wellington Fire Rescue would receive Naloxone kits at no cost to the municipality for use during emergency responses.
Firefighters with Centre Wellington Fire Rescue already receive training to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and administer Naloxone under approved medical directives. The medication would be carried and administered exclusively by trained fire department personnel.
Township staff say joining the program would ensure frontline firefighters continue to have access to the lifesaving medication while supporting the department’s efforts to reduce preventable overdose deaths and strengthen emergency medical response within the community.
The recommendation will be considered during Centre Wellington Council’s meeting beginning at 5 pm this evening.