Chicago City Wire

Nasal spray to be used for travelers and others experiencing opioid overdoses

The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) has introduced a new program to counter the opioid epidemic by providing the overdose medication Narcan at O’Hare and Midway International Airports. The medication is now available throughout O’Hare and Midway, and is set inside of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) cabinets located in the pre-and post-security areas of the airports. When the cabinets are opened, an alarm is triggered, guiding officers to locations where individuals require assistance following heart or overdose issues.

“Like many other places throughout the nation, Chicago has been greatly impacted by the devastation of the opioid crisis,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Serious health situations such as overdoses can happen anywhere in our city, including our airports. By making Narcan available at O’Hare and Midway, trained personnel can give immediate assistance to individuals with health needs and ensure the welfare and safety of residents and visitors.”

There are 196 AED cabinets at O’Hare and 32 at Midway. Narcan is the brand name for naloxone hydrochloride, a nasal spray that is administered to individuals following an overdose of opioids such as heroin, fentanyl and over-the-counter opioid medications.

Turnkey Training, which maintains the AEDs and cabinets, provided the opioid overdose training to Aviation Security Officers (ASOs) and Chicago Police Department officers. Turnkey also provides CPR and Stop the Bleed training to staff throughout the airports.

“We are committed to making our airports as safe as possible, and equipped to meet any health challenges that arise among travelers and community members,” said CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee. “With Narcan, first responders at O’Hare and Midway can quickly assist anyone experiencing an overdose on opioids, increasing the likelihood that we can save lives. Hopefully, this can be a first step toward those individuals receiving treatment.”  

The Illinois Department of Public Health is supplying Narcan to the CDA at no cost. In addition to the airports, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) supplies no-cost Narcan at various public sites throughout Chicago — including every Chicago Public Library branch — and maintains a website that lists all locations in the City where the medication is found.

More Narcan training for first responders and other CDA staff at O’Hare and Midway will be provided as needed.

Original source can be found here.