Oak Lawn Public Library
Opioid Antagonist Policy
Purpose
As a means of enhancing the health and safety of its visitors and staff, the Oak Lawn Public Library (“Library”) has determined that it is necessary and in the best interests of its visitors and staff to make opioid antagonists available in accordance with applicable law. Consistent with Illinois law, the Library wishes to obtain authorization for trained Library personnel to administer an opioid antagonist in response to suspected drug overdoses occurring in on Library property.
Definitions
For purposes of this policy, these terms shall be defined as follows:
- Drug overdose – an acute medical condition, including, but not limited to, severe physical illness, coma, mania, hysteria or death, which is the result of a consumption or use of one or more opiate-related controlled substances causing an adverse reaction. An individual's condition shall be deemed a suspected drug overdose if a prudent person, possessing an average knowledge of medicine and health, would reasonably believe that the condition is a drug overdose and requires immediate medical attention.
- Emergency medical services personnel - individuals whose official or assigned responsibilities include performing or directly supporting the performance of emergency medical and rescue services or firefighting.
- Opioid antagonist – a drug that binds to opioid receptors and blocks or inhibits the effect of opioids acting on those receptors, including, but not limited to, opioid antagonist hydrochloride or any other similarly acting drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
- Trained personnel – any Library employee or volunteer who has completed training to administer an opioid antagonist under this policy.
- Secure location – an unlocked location that is inaccessible to visitors and/or visually monitored by an adult during the Library’s normal hours of operation under routine circumstances.
Guidelines
Prescription From Health Care Professional
The Library Director or designee shall obtain an opioid antagonist, for use by authorized Library personnel, to assist any individuals suspected of experiencing a drug overdose at the Library, in accordance with Section 5-23 of the Illinois Substance Use Disorder Act (20 ILCS 301/5-23).
The Library will obtain, store and administer an opioid antagonist in compliance with this policy, and impose any other conditions that a health care professional believes is appropriate to ensure the safety and well-being of an individual experiencing a drug overdose.
Training
Only trained Library personnel shall administer an opioid antagonist. Prior to the administration of an opioid antagonist, trained personnel must submit to the Library Director proof of completion of a training curriculum to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose. The training curriculum may be conducted online or in person. The Library Director shall be available to answer questions from training participants if the training is presented online.
Training must be completed annually. The training must comply with any training requirements under Section 5–23 of the Substance Use Disorder Act and the corresponding rules, and the requirements set forth in this policy. Training must include, but is not limited to:
- How to recognize symptoms of an opioid overdose;
- Information on drug overdose prevention and recognition;
- How to perform rescue breathing and resuscitation;
- How to respond to an emergency involving an opioid overdose;
- Opioid antagonist dosage and administration;
- The importance of calling 911 or, if 911 is not available, other local emergency medical services;
- Care for the overdose victim after administration of the overdose antagonist;
- Where the opioid antagonist is stored and how to access the drug;
- The method by which trained personnel will be notified of an incident that could require the administration of an opioid antagonist; and
- The process for administering the specific opioid antagonist identified in the standing order.
Trained personnel should also submit to the Library Director proof of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) certification. CPR and AED courses must be conducted by a trainer who is certified in CPR/AED by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or a similar certifying body. Trained personnel shall renew any certification issued in accordance with the requirements of the certifying body and present the certification to the Library Director.
The Library must maintain records relating to the training curriculum and the trained personnel.
Storage of Opioid Antagonists
Opioid antagonists shall be safely stored in compliance with the drug manufacturer’s instructions. The Library Director shall obtain sufficient supplies of opioid antagonists pursuant to its prescription in the same manner as other medical supplies that may be kept by the Library. The Library Director or designee shall regularly inventory and refresh opioid antagonist stocks, and maintain records thereof, in accordance with the established internal procedures, manufacturer recommendations, and Department of Health Guidelines.
Opioid antagonists shall be made readily accessible to those Library employees who have completed the required training to administer it in the event of suspected drug overdose. All properly trained employees shall be made aware exactly where opioid antagonists are being stored. Trained personnel may carry an opioid antagonist on their person while in Library.
Standing Protocol
A standing protocol for administering an opioid antagonist shall be provided to trained personnel, as well as kept with or near the supply of opioid antagonists. The Library is not required to have trained personnel available at all times, nor at all Library-sponsored activities, to administer opioid antagonists.
The standing protocol shall provide that the opioid antagonist be stored in and available daily at one or more designated, secure locations.
The Library shall post notice in a public, easily accessible location that it has instituted the standing protocol, and that a visitor or staff member may be administered an opioid antagonist under the circumstances described therein.
Administration of Opioid Antagonists
Trained personnel may administer an opioid antagonist to any person whom trained personnel in good faith believes to be having an opioid overdose (i) while in the Library, (ii) while at a Library-sponsored activity, or (iii) while on Library operated property.
These protocols shall be followed when administering an opioid antagonist to respond to a suspected drug overdose:
- The administering employee shall immediately ensure that someone calls 9-1-1 for emergency medical service personnel to be dispatched to respond to a suspected drug overdose.
- The employee shall assess the individual to determine, if: (i) the person is without a pulse or suffering a cardiac arrest; (ii) the person is not breathing or suffering respiratory arrest; and/or (iii) the person is exhibiting signs or symptoms of a drug overdose.
- Consistent with the employee’s observations and training, administer an opioid antagonist to the individual suffering the suspected drug overdose and administer CPR, as needed.
- Continue to observe the individual suffering the suspected drug overdose until emergency medical service personnel arrives on scene.
- Fully cooperate with emergency medical service personnel responding to the scene, and do not interfere with or impede the administration of emergency medical services to the individual suffering the suspected drug overdose.
- Notify the Library Director or designee of the facts and circumstances surrounding the drug overdose incident.
Administration of an opioid antagonist shall not be required in circumstances of unavailability of opioid antagonist, unavailability of a qualified opioid antagonist administrator, and/or uncertainty as to whether an overdose is occurring, among other reasons. This policy does not create a duty on the part of the Library and/or its personnel to administer an opioid antagonist.
Indemnification
The Library shall indemnify and hold harmless any employee who administers an opioid antagonist in good faith to another individual experiencing a suspected drug overdose, if all of these conditions apply: (i) the employee did not act in a willful and wanton manner in administering the opioid antagonist to that individual; (ii) the employee successfully completed the training contemplated by law and by this policy; (iii) the employee promptly sought additional medical assistance before or immediately after administering the opioid antagonist; and (iv) the employee is administering the opioid antagonist in the performance of his/her duties as either an employee of the Library.
Community Notification
The Library shall take reasonable steps to notify visitors and staff of this policy. Such notification shall encourage visitors and staff to immediately report suspected drug overdoses to Library personnel to ensure medical assistance can be immediately provided. “Reasonable” means to notify patrons and staff of this policy may include, but not be limited to, electronic communications, publication through library handbooks and policy manuals, newsletters and calendars, the Library’s official website, bulletin boards, and other similar paper or electronic means of communication.
Non-Employee Administration of Opioid Antagonists
Nothing in this policy is intended to regulate, restrict or otherwise deter a law enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, volunteer fire company member, licensed medical professional or other authorized individual from administering his/her own supply of opioid antagonists when responding in good faith to a suspected drug overdose occurring on Library property.
Adopted: 10/15/2019