Two New Overdose Aid Kits Installed in North Freedom

Sauk County, Wis- Public Health Sauk County has partnered with the Clinton Foundation to install Overdose Aid Kits in the North Freedom community at Highlander Laundry and the North Freedom Community Center.

Overdose Aid Kits or OAKs are metal boxes that include:
• Narcan Nasal Spray - a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose
• Breathing masks for giving rescue breaths
• 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
• 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 community center’s business hours (8am – 3pm) and during the laundromat’s business hours (8am – 10pm).

Figure 1 (left to right): Jessica Geschke, Senior Project Manager with the Overdose Response Network at the Clinton Foundation, Hannah Erdman, Health Educator at Public Health Sauk County, and Amy Schroeder, Secretary and Treasurer for Start Healing Now.

Michael Carignan, North Freedom Village President, states, “Unfortunately, the opioid/fentanyl epidemic has not ignored North Freedom. To have these Overdose Aid Kits available for those in the community who need the valuable contents of these kits when an emergency arises offers a form of help to these individuals. Hopefully, having the life-saving contents of these kits easily available will lead people to get the help they need. North Freedom greatly appreciates the donation of the kits by Public Health Sauk County.”

The Clinton Foundation partners with other nonprofits and organizations in Wisconsin to install Overdose Aid Kits. Jessica Geschke, Senior Project Manager with the Overdose Response Network at the Clinton Foundation, states, “As a champion of community protection, The Clinton Foundation is dedicated to addressing the fentanyl crisis in Wisconsin. Our Overdose Aid Kit initiatives prioritize education, prevention, and reduction of overdoses. Surviving an overdose is the first step toward recovery. Making naloxone (Narcan) readily available when and where it's needed is crucial to addressing overdose deaths and supporting long-term recovery.”

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.

Agencies interested in having an Overdose Aid Kit installed at their location can contact Public Health Sauk County at 608-355-3290. Anyone 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, Health Educator

Public Health Sauk County

608-355-4319 hannah.erdman@saukcountywi.gov

Posted March 4, 2025.

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