Opioid rescue kits available 24/7 outside 4 Richmond fire stations

Mike Emery, Richmond Palladium-Item
·2 min read
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RICHMOND, Ind. — Four city fire stations now have kits available to save individuals overdosing on narcotics.

The free opioid rescue kits are housed in boxes mounted outside the stations, enabling individuals to anonymously access naloxone, the antidote to narcotics overdoses, 24 hours a day. The kits are part of Richmond Fire Department's new community paramedicine program.

Kalie Anderson has been working about a month as the paramedicine program's social worker.

"I'm here for whoever is ready for treatment," Anderson said. "For those not ready, we're trying to reduce overdose deaths."

Overdose Lifeline provides the kits, which include a dose of naloxone and use instructions inside plastic bags. Anderson will stock kits in the four fire station boxes that were installed Wednesday. They are located at:

  • Station 1 at 101 S. Fifth St.;

  • Station 2 at 930 Winding Ridge Drive;

  • Station 4 at 801 S. L St.; and

  • Station 5 at 1971 W. Main St.

Those are the four stations among more residential areas. The Station 1 box, which is on the east side wall near a drink vending machine, is near similar boxes at the Wayne County Health Department across the street and the Neighborhood Health Center at South 10th and A streets. The sheriff's office and jail also has free kits dispensed from a lobby vending machine.

Addressing drug addiction is a main focus of the paramedicine program, along with homelessness and mental health. The department received a $1,024,000 grant from the Indiana State Department of Health to implement the program. Part of the two-year grant pays for Anderson's position and a community paramedic, a position yet to be filled.

The paramedicine program's goal is to reduce risk among the target groups, said Anderson, who grew up in New Castle but has been in Wayne County since 2016 working for the Department of Child Services and Reid Health. Those groups are often frequent 911 callers requesting RFD's emergency transport service.

The program might help elderly people reduce their fall risk, help coordinate home health care or just check on people living alone. She said older residents and those with mental health issues often don't have anyone they can call for help.

Anderson's able to help connect individuals with resources. She said Thursday she had earlier taken someone to the Family and Social Services Administration office and to Centerstone.

Medics, firefighters, police officers and Reid Health's discharge personnel right now provide Anderson information about who might need her assistance. She also has been spending time connecting with local service providers.

Anyone who needs her assistance can also call the fire department at 765-983-7266.

"We're just getting started, but we're excited about how this is developing," Anderson said.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Opioid rescue kits available 24/7 outside 4 Richmond fire stations