HHS publishes resources on first responder use of naloxone during pandemic

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently published a new resource on naloxone: “First Responders Can Safely Administer Naloxone During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The resource notes that taking universal safety precautions enables law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS providers to safely administer naloxone, even during the pandemic. The fact sheet then provides several steps to take when responding to an overdose, including use of personal protective equipment (PPE), positioning the person’s head facing away, standing up and stepping back to a distance of 6 feet as the person regains consciousness, removing PPE following appropriate safety procedures, and washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds afterwards.