Latest St. John’s Ambulance training course teaching people about the legal coverage for those who step in and help during an overdose.
Program Head Drew Binette says the Opioid Overdose Training course teaches people how to use a Naloxone kit, and details of the Good Samaritan Law.
“Legality wise, when you come across somebody who is unconscious, not breathing, or in an overdose situation, you can’t make that person any worse than what they are. So the key thing is to start calling 9-1-1 and to start helping them if you can help them.”
Binette says since the overdose crisis got worse, the law has shifted, so if you’re with somebody who has overdosed and you have some drugs on you, you won’t be arrested for that.
“Key thing around that is, we know that the majority of people who are overdosing are doing it alone, and so we want people to stay with them, we don’t want them to run away.”
The free course is offered in ten different B.C locations, including Kamloops.
(Photo credit: St. John’s Ambulance)