Administration of Emergency Opioid Antagonists

It is the policy of the Oologah-Talala Board of Education, in light of the increased opioid addiction crisis nationwide, to authorize medical personnel at school to administer an opioid antagonist to any student or person they in good-faith suspect is having an opioid related drug overdose.

State law defines "medical personnel at schools" to include a certified school nurse or any other nurse employed by or under contract with a school, any licensed practitioner of the healing arts, or any person designated by the school administration to administer an opioid antagonist in the event of a suspected overdose.

The board of education hereby designates any school nurse, public health nurse, licensed practitioner of the healing arts, nurse working under contract with a school district or any person designated by the school administration to administer an emergency opioid antagonist in the event of a suspected overdose is authorized regardless of whether there is a prescription or standing order in place, to administer an emergency opioid antagonist when encountering a student or other individual exhibiting signs of an opioid overdose.

The administration of the school district may formally authorize one or more persons employed by the school to receive training offered by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, a law enforcement agency or any other entity in recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose and administering an emergency opioid antagonist. Persons designated to receive this training may include, but are not limited to, the certified and noncertified staff members required to receive annual training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the Heimlich maneuver in accordance with statute. If in-person training is not readily available in the area, the person or persons designated under this provision may access opioid antagonist training materials available online through the State Department of Health or another entity. Such training shall include information on how to recognize symptoms of an overdose, instruction in basic resuscitation techniques, instruction on proper administration of an opioid antagonist and the importance of calling 911 for help.

In the absence of the person or persons specifically designated and trained to administer an emergency opioid antagonist under the provisions of this section, the administration of a school may authorize any person to administer an emergency opioid antagonist to a student or other individual exhibiting signs of an overdose.

Any person administering an opioid antagonist to a student or other individual at a school site or school sponsored event in a manner consistent with addressing opioid overdose shall be covered under the Good Samaritan Act. A school and any of its employees or designees shall be immune from civil liability in relation to the administration of an emergency opioid antagonist in the event of a suspected overdose.

The person(s) who has been approved by the administration of the school to administer an emergency opioid antagonist to a student suspected to be undergoing an opioid-related drug overdose, may administer the antagonist, and, as soon as practicable, shall notify first responders of the situation.

The emergency opioid antagonist supplied by the school district shall be approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Each school site shall maintain a supply of opioid antagonists in a secure but unlocked and easily accessible location. The antagonists shall be maintained in quantities and types deemed adequate by the administration, in consultation with local first responders.

The emergency opioid antagonists shall be accessible in the school during regular school hours and during school-sponsored functions that take place on school grounds. The board of education at its discretion, may make emergency opioid antagonists accessible during school-sponsored functions that take place off school grounds and/or on school transportation.

Each person approved to administer the emergency opioid antagonist shall be required to receive training on proper administration of the antagonist, to be chosen by the administration and paid for by the school district.

Legal Citations

The qualifications and procedures outlined in this policy are based upon the following Oklahoma Statutes (O.S.):

• 68 O.S. §1-2506.1
• 70 O.S. §1210.242