Safety Stations in Federal Facilities Should Stock Anti-Overdose Meds

WASHINGTON — Updated federal guidelines recommend that opioid reversal agents such as naloxone and hemorrhagic control supplies such as Stop the Bleed® become as commonplace at workplace safety stations as automated external defibrillator machines.

Though the guidance from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and the General Services Administration only applies to federal facilities, it is significant because many private entities follow the government’s example when it comes to such matters.

The update is also significant because the guidelines currently in place haven’t been updated in any appreciable way since 2009.

“These updated guidelines are based on the best available science and represent a flexible and collective response as a federal family,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Rachel L. Levine.

“An emergency can happen in any setting, including our workplaces. We all need to be prepared to save a life anytime, anywhere,” she said.

Overdose reversal medications that can reverse an opioid-involved overdose, including a fentanyl-involved overdose, can be found in many schools, libraries, and other community institutions and should be readily available in and around federal buildings.

Hemorrhagic control supplies provide immediate post-injury care in the recognition and treatment of a bleeding emergency. Access to bleeding control equipment is beneficial to occupants of federal facilities.

The updated guidelines expand the concept of an automated external defibrillator program by introducing the “safety station,” which would enable anyone located within a federal facility to access the necessary tools quickly and easily to respond to an emergency situation. 

Under the new recommendation, anywhere that an automated external defibrillator was previously located can and should be converted to a safety station.

Each safety station is recommended to include an automated external defibrillator and supporting equipment at a minimum. It is now highly recommended that each station also include either a bystander-empowered opioid reversal agent or hemorrhagic control component, or both.

The primary purpose of these guidelines is to provide a general framework for establishing a design process for safety station programs in federal facilities. A secondary purpose is to familiarize federal agencies with the three modular bystander-empowered components and the essential elements associated with each component of such a program.

The design of a safety station program for any federal facility will be unique and depends on many factors, including the population demographics of the facility, the size and location of the facility and the surrounding area. These guidelines are intended to provide a foundation upon which individually tailored programs are established and maintained.

The safety station program is voluntary and not mandatory for federal facilities. The costs and expenses to establish and operate a safety station program are the responsibility of the federal agency or agencies sponsoring the program.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue