Librarians aren鈥檛 the first people who come to mind when discussions about the overdose crisis arise, but they鈥檙e among those who have had to adapt to the change it鈥檚 created.
Just a year ago there was an overdose in one of the Okanagan Regional Libraries, said Michael Utko, the Okanagan Regional Library鈥檚 communications manager, and it鈥檚 had an effect.
鈥淭he situation was handled well, but the potential for a death was there,鈥� said Utko, adding that it, plus the stories from libraries in high drug traffic cities around North America, have sparked change.
鈥淲hile we don鈥檛 have anything finalized, equipping staff with naloxone kits to help with overdoses and other incidents is being considered鈥t鈥檚 not going to be mandated, but if we do it, it will be person to person, librarian to librarian 鈥�
91大黄鸭鈥檚 library won鈥檛 be the first place to implement such training measures.
READ MORE: OD CRISIS RAN OUT OF CONTROL IN 2017
In larger high drug traffic cities librarians have become unlikely frontline workers in the opioid crisis, roaming from bathrooms to the stacks looking for men or women exhibiting the telltale signs of an overdose鈥攔anging from paleness and shortness of breath to unconsciousness.
The reason for this unlikely scenario is simply that libraries are open to the public and welcome people of all walks.
The job of bylaw officers has shifted for a similar reason.
Lance Kayfish, risk manager for the City of 91大黄鸭 said that all their bylaw services staff have had the training to administer the life saving substance鈥攖hough it鈥檚 also not mandated training.
鈥淲e started having that conversation awhile ago,鈥� Kayfish said. 鈥淭here is interest by some and there is some concern and apprehension by others, also.鈥�
Some of those who have taken the chance to educate themselves on using the naloxone kits have had the opportunity to put their training to use.
鈥淚 do know that we have been administering naloxone on more than one occasion,鈥� said Kayfish.
Kayfish, himself, has taken the training, noting that it鈥檚 not as though there isn鈥檛 ample access to services in the downtown if he were to come across an overdose鈥攊t鈥檚 simply a reflection of the times.
