Seattle Public Libraries authorizes staff to administer Narcan for overdoses
Seattle Public Libraries is planning to allow trained staff members to administer Narcan for those who overdose on library grounds.
The drug, also known by the generic name naloxone, is used to counteract opioid drug overdoses quickly.
Staff will not be required to administer Narcan to library visitors who appear to be overdosing on opioids. Instead, they will only be trained to administer the drug on a volunteer basis.
“We want our staff to be prepared for any kind of situation,” Elisa Murray with Seattle Public Library said.
As a result, Narcan may not be available at library locations that have no staff volunteers to administer it.
“In other words, there is no guarantee that a patron who overdoses on library grounds will receive naloxone,” The Seattle Public Library said in its shelf talk blog.
The drug is not yet available at libraries. It has been ordered and will be put in first aid kits for staff use only.
Training sessions for staff who are interested in volunteering are being secured.
“We expect these steps to be completed in the next few months,” the library said in its blog.
“We have a very compassionate staff and they do see people in need. And I know that we will be happy to offer this when we can,” Murray said.
Calling 911 will still be the first step for a library staff member who finds a visitor who appears to have overdosed.
Brad Finegood is a strategic advisor of behavioral Health for Public Health Seattle/King County. He believes there should be Narcan available everywhere in case of an overdose.
He tells KIRO7 he lost his brother to a drug overdose and believes Narcan would have saved him.
“But could they have given my brother back? Could they have given my parents their son back? Could they have given my kids their uncle back? Absolutely,” Finegood said.
Finegood believes having more Narcan available will help save lives.
“We can all band together to really come together to help people. And to me, that’s truly inspirational,” Finegood said.
As for library officials, they reviewed the issue over the last several months with guidance on liability from the Seattle City Attorney’s Office and an examination of other city department practices.
