09/25/2017
Dear Friends,
Last week, an article was published in the Cambridge Times regarding a School Trustee's request to have Naloxone in every first aid kit of every school in Waterloo Region. Here is a link to the article:
https://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news-story/7565212-make-naloxone-kits-available-in-schools-says-cambridge-trustee/
I need your help to write to every School Trustee (both public and separate) to support Cindy Watson to make this happen.
Here is my email. Please edit your email to personalize it:
Dear Trustees,
This email is in response to an article in the Cambridge Times regarding the availability of Naloxone in schools.
I personally feel very strongly that Naloxone kits should be in every school in Waterloo Region. I have a Naloxone kit in my home. I hope to never have to use it, but I have it as a safety measure in the unlikely event that someone in my home or neighbourhood overdoses. I, like hundreds of other members of our community have been trained on the proper administration of this drug. I know that this drug is harmless if accidentally administered to someone who is not overdosing. If my children were still in school, i would want to know that the school had Naloxone as part of their first aid kit.
I lost my 17 year old son Austin in 2013 to an accidental drug poisoning. Had Naloxone been as widely available as it is today, Austin may very well be alive.
I am now an advocate for Harm Reduction and Overdose Awareness Training in our schools. I have been facilitating a 70 minute program, along with a public health nurse, to grades 9 and 12 students at EDSS for four years. We have also presented the program to Education Assistants, the alternative education schools, School of Pharmacy, the Committee of Youth Officers Conference, etc.
This education session, along with Naloxone should be in our schools immediately.
Thank you.
Christine Padaric
