Page 33 - GBC summer ENG 2023

How the availability of Naloxone at your facility can save lives
This legislation initially aimed at protecting employees but was recently expanded to include protection for high-risk environments.
The government has stated that it intends to have this life saving drug in all 300,000+ Ontario small businesses. While Ontario is leading, other provinces are moving this way as well.
Considering the athletic nature of golf courses, the potential for injuries which are sometimes treated with opioids, alcohol availability, and the dangers of illicit opioid supplies, it is crucial to have Naloxone kits on site at your facility.
Monte McNaughton, Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, states, “Everyone in our province knows someonewhohasbeenimpactedby
the opioid epidemic. These are brothers, sisters, mothers, and daughters, and we need to do everything in our power to save lives. That is why our government is bringing life-saving Naloxone kits to high-risk settings...”
NALOXONE: A LIFE-SAVING SOLUTION
Naloxone is a pure opioid antagonist that competes with opioids and displaces them from the receptor site. In doing so, it reverses the effects of the opioid and is essential in the treatment of opioid toxicity. Simply put, it is the antidote to an opiate poisoning. Naloxone is commonly administered via nasal spray or injections. Typically, the effects are seen in 2-5 min and last 30-120min.
Naloxone has a shorter duration of action and thus multiple doses are often required to treat an overdose situation. Moreover, the potency of the opioid that has been taken in excess can also necessitate multiple doses of naloxone to force these potent drugs off the receptors and allow normal bodily function to return.
RECOGNIZING & REACTING TO SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE
It is vital to recognize the signs of an overdose as you may be able to save the life of one of your golfers, or employees. Signs such as slow, shallow irregular breathing that sometimes make a gurgling sound, pale clammy skin with a blue tinge to the lips and nails beds, pinpoint pupils, extreme drowsiness or loss of consciousness, unresponsive to shouting, shaking or firm rubbing of the middle of chest and slowed or no heartbeat can all indicate an overdose.
If one of your golfers or employees is exhibiting these symptoms, call 911 immediately and administer Naloxone if it is available. Even if the person appearstobeunconscious,itisimportanttocallforhelpandadminister Naloxone as it can be effective, even if the person is not breathing.
Other emergency actions such as CPR should be administered if appropriate and you know how. If after 1-2 minutes, a partial or inadequate response is seen, subsequent doses of Naloxone may be administered until the ambulance arrives. It sometimes can take multiple (3 or more) doses to get an appropriate response.
Once a person has received Naloxone and has responded they may experience some side effects related to the Naloxone reversing the opiates. Most often these symptoms are mild. Typically, they are confused and not aware of what has taken place. They should be reassured of their safety and that help is coming. Your golfers or employees may be embarrassed and fear judgement for what has taken place. In some instances, they may also experience some withdrawal like symptoms that may include, runny nose or congested nose, sneezing or yawning, nervousness, pain,
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