OC Sheriff’s Office participates in LEON Training

On April 7, deputies with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office attended special training and were distributed medication that could help save the life of someone who is suffering from an opioid overdose. The training, referred to as LEON training, (Law Enforcement Officer Naloxone training), was conducted by officers and officials from the Anderson and Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, as well as officials from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Bureau of EMS and DAODAS ( South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services). Part of the training was distribution to deputies of the drug Narcan, otherwise known as Naloxone, which is a drug that can help to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The medication provided to deputies is at no cost to Oconee County taxpayers. “The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office always seeks to be proactive and with the epidemic of opioid abuse and overdoses throughout the country, we want our deputies to be prepared should they respond to a call and someone is suffering from an opioid overdose,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw. “The distribution of Narcan to our deputies will not totally reverse the effect of an overdose but it will hopefully buy time for a patient until Emergency Medical Services arrive and can administer further treatment. The goal is to help save lives. In 2013, we equipped our deputies with tourniquet kits and our deputies have used those kits three times to help save lives. In 2015, we began equipping some of our Uniform Patrol units with Automated External Defibrillators which is not historically issued to law enforcement. Right now, we have fourteen deputies that have been issued AED’s that they carry in their vehicles. Studies have shown that law enforcement officers are among the first public safety officials to arrive at the scene of a call for service so the Sheriff’s Office wants to equip our officers with as many tools as we can in order to save someone’s life if possible,” added Sheriff Crenshaw. All certified officers received two dosages of Narcan in a nasal spray form. Besides receiving the lifesaving drug, deputies also received training on recognizing the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose as well as the proper preparation, administration, storage and carrying of the drug. Narcan is only effective against individuals who have overdosed on opioids but is not effective on other drugs, such as benzos or alcohol. The dosages that were given to the deputies have a shelf life of 18 months to two years. “Opioids work on the central nervous system and one of the signs of an overdose is a depressed respiratory system that affects an individual’s ability to breathe. Narcan reverses the effect of the opioid overdose and helps a patient to resume normal breathing. Once again, it is important to note that the dosages given to our deputies will hopefully buy time for an overdose patient until EMS arrives and further treatment can be given,” continued Sheriff Crenshaw. Based upon information provided at the training, deputies learned that drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States and that there were 13 opioid related deaths in Oconee County in 2015 alone. “One other consideration is the dangers of drug dealers mixing other opioids, such as Fentanyl and Carfentanil, in with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine or pressing those drugs together in a pill from. Only a minute amount of Fentanyl and Carfentanil can kill someone, so another part of the equation is the dangers to those that are totally innocent and also to our officers as well. We have a duty to protect all of citizens but especially those who are innocent victims. There have been documented cases in other areas where a child accidentally took an opioid drug. Narcan gives our deputies another tool to potentially save a life. We will continue to stress prevention, enforcement, and treatment in our effort against drugs,” says Sheriff Crenshaw.