New Overdose Aid Kits installed at Spring Green Community Library

Sauk County, Wis— Public Health Sauk County has partnered with the non-profit organization Start Healing Now to install two Overdose Aid Kits in the bathrooms at Spring Green Community Library.

Overdose Aid Kits or OAKs are metal boxes that include Narcan - a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. The box also contains breathing masks, instructions for administering Narcan in an emergency, Dispose Rx Packets that provide a safe solution for the disposal of unused or expired medications, fentanyl test strips that can detect the presence of the powerful opioid fentanyl in different drugs, and local, state, and national resources for those struggling with substance use. Any community member can access the OAK boxes and the free supplies inside during the library’s business hours. 

Figure 1 (left to right): Hannah Erdman, Health Educator at Public Health Sauk County, Amy Schroeder, Secretary and Treasurer for Start Health Now, and Emily Whitmore, Director of the Spring Green Community Library.

Emily Whitmore, the Director of the Spring Green Community Library, shared, "The Spring Green Community Library is very happy to have two OAK boxes in our building. As a community resource and center of information, we are a natural fit for this project that emphasizes education and aid. We are happy to do our small part to save lives."

Start Healing Now partners with other nonprofits and organizations in Wisconsin to install Overdose Aid Kits free of charge. Jessica Geschke, Start Healing Now President, states, “As a champion of community protection, Start Healing Now is dedicated to addressing the fentanyl crisis in Wisconsin. Our Overdose Aid Kit initiatives prioritize education, prevention, and reduction of overdoses. We are proud to contribute our fourth OAK to this community and Sauk County, supporting a comprehensive statewide approach to this critical issue.”

Hannah Erdman, a Health Educator at Public Health Sauk County, coordinated the OAK box installation. “Opioid overdoses can happen at any time and having Narcan on hand can save a life. The Narcan in the OAK is available for anyone to take, no questions asked, and to use in an onsite emergency. We can all take action to save lives,” she states.

If you are interested in having an Overdose Aid Kit installed at your location, contact Public Health Sauk County at 608-355-3290. You can learn how to use Narcan Nasal Spray to reverse an opioid overdose to save a life and get free Narcan at www.UCanSaveALife.org. To learn more about the Overdose Aid Kits please visit www.overdoseaidkit.com.

About Public Health Sauk County

Public Health Sauk County supports the well-being of all people in our community. Through wellness programs, environmental health initiatives, and a focus on creating systemic change, we cultivate healthier places and people so that Sauk County can thrive. For more information on our programs and services, visit https://www.co.sauk.wi.us/publichealth.

Contact: Hannah Erdman     

Title: Health Educator

Public Health Sauk County
608-355-4319 hannah.erdman@saukcountywi.gov

Date posted: December 2, 2024

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