Detection & Management of Opioid Exposure for Public Safety Working Dogs
IN THE NEWS
Detection & Management of Opioid Exposure for Public Safety Working Dogs
Veterinary Doctors Maureen McMichael & Ashley Mitek, in conjunction with the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and Working Dogs HQ and partnering with Carle Regional Emergency Medical System and Carle Arrow Ambulance, have developed a program to assess and treat working service dogs (primarily in scent detection) that may have had an exposure to opiates and may be showing signs of overdose. The program continues to evolve and, although there are many resources that are readily available to all those interested, it is expected that in any program setup, there will be approval and oversight with the first responder agency’s medical director(s) and training completed by veterinarians. The program is designed for those working with the service dogs as well as those that might be assigned with or respond to these incidents.
The goal of the program developers is to have anyone that might need K9 (canine) clinical management of a possible opiate exposure to have access to the program information and materials, so spread the word to those that might be interested.
The program is explained, and training and program materials are provided, on a couple of websites including the Veterinary Medicine Program at the University of Illinois and a site dedicated to Working Service Dogs. FirstWatch will have links to a few of their pertinent sites listed in Keeping Your Employees Safe, so explore their websites and click on the tabs and links for more info. Also, please refer to their websites for updated and/or added resources.
Click here for related article, with links, in Keeping Your Employees Safe
