Chester County leaders have ripped through bureaucratic red tape to save lives and give residents who have overdosed on heroin a second chance at life.

State Sen. Andy Dinniman and the West Chester director of the Good Fellowship EMS Training Institute recently championed a successful effort to speed up the process of getting the heroin anti-overdose drug Naloxone into the hands of emergency medical responders, which has lagged behind access to police officers and firefighters solely because of an administrative protocol, according to a recent announcement from the lawmaker.

“This is another instance of Chester County leading the way and making a difference that will reverberate throughout Pennsylvania,” Dinniman said. “We know Naloxone can save lives. We know all our emergency first responders should have it on hand. So, we asked ‘Why wait until July?’ And fortunately the new administration moved quickly to address our concerns.”

East Brandywine, Caln and Downingtown police officers have already saved lives this year with the help of Naloxone.

“Twenty-four people died from heroin overdoses in Chester County in 2013,” Dinniman added. “Everyone deserves a second chance at life and at recovery. Imagine how many lives can be saved by expanding the use of this drug now rather than later.”

Instrumental in the effort alongside Dinniman was William Wells; the two met with Acting Secretary of Health Karen Murphy and Acting Physician General Rachel Levine last month, and Levine subsequently issued written approval for EMTs to carry and administer Naloxone after watching a training video.

______

Top Photo Credit  BBC World News