When Aubrey Kay ran into a local restaurant one evening in October 2022, she didn’t know that she would save someone’s life.
Aubrey Kay is a senior at Herzing University earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Two days prior, she had attended a NARCAN training session to learn how to administer the opioid overdose reversal drug, Naloxone.
The opioid epidemic is a real crisis. According to the CDC, overdose deaths from all drugs in the U.S. climbed a staggering 29.4% leading up to December 2020, killing more than 93,000 people. About 75% of those deaths were from opioid overdoses. There are ways that the community can help prevent this staggering number. Research shows that high rates of naloxone distribution among everyday people and emergency workers could reduce opioid overdose deaths by 21%.
Aubrey Puts Her Training to Good Use
While Aubrey found the training helpful, she did not think that she would ever use the NARCAN kit that she was provided at the end of the event. However, she had left it in the back of her car just in case. Little did she know that within 48 hours of receiving training, Aubrey would end up using it.
“When I was in the bathroom, I noticed a person in the stall next to me fall to the ground. I then climbed under the stall to remove the person and assess the situation,” Aubrey recounted. Right away she knew that something was very wrong. “When I tried assessing their consciousness, they were not responding. Their pulse was weak, and I felt that they were turning cold very fast.”
While others around her said that this person was okay and had too much to drink, Aubrey knew that it was something more. After calling for an ambulance, Aubrey went to her car to retrieve her NARCAN training kit.
“I did not know exactly what the person was going through, but I knew that administering NARCAN could, in the best-case scenario, save her life. In the worst-case scenario, administering Naloxone would not have any impact,” Aubrey explained. Within minutes of administering the Naloxone, the client started showing signs of improvement as they became more alert and hyperactive.
“This situation impacted my life as I not only helped someone survive, but I gained lots of confidence in knowing what to do if I ever face a similar situation again. I was the only advocate for this person, and I feel if I were not there, their chance of survival could have been limited,” said Aubrey.
You Could Save a Life!
Aubrey’s quick thinking and training helped save a woman’s life, and you can do the same!
All are welcome to join Herzing University and the Kenosha Health Department at Herzing University Kenosha to learn more about the opioid overdose reversal drug Naloxone (NARCAN). All participants will:
- Learn how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose
- Acquire knowledge of how to administer Naloxone
- Understand the overall opioid public health crisis and possible solutions
- After the session, all attendees will get a NARCAN kit to take home with them.
Herzing University Kenosha will be hosting training throughout the year including a session on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 12:00 PM CT. The event will be free and open to the community. You can register for the event at the Eventbrite link here.
“I knew that having this training can save lives,” Aubrey explained, “NARCAN training is something I would recommend to anyone whether they are involved in healthcare or not.”
