Policy Text
Page 1 of 3 26/09 (NEW 2/18)
GENERAL ORDER
Naloxone for Law Enforcement
The purpose of this General Order is to establish departmental policy and procedures
regarding the administration o f Naloxone. The objective of adm inistering Naloxone is to
treat opioid overdoses and reduce fatalities.
I. Policy Statement
It shall be the policy of the Sacr amento Sheriff’s Department t o train personnel in
the utilization of Naloxone prior to administering in the field . The purpose of this
order is to establish guidelines and regulations governing the administration of
Naloxone by the Sacramento Count y Sheriff’s Department. This a gency
recognizes that all Sheriff’s D eputies who intend to use Naloxo ne are required to
be trained in the use of Naloxone in accordance with the Sacram ento County
Emergency Medical Services (EM S) and Peace Officer Standards an d Training
(POST) standards.
II. Definitions:
Naloxone is a medication used to b lock the effects of opioids t hat can reverse the
life-threatening effects of opioid overdose.
Opioid is an opiate (synthetic or otherwise) that includes but is not limited to
heroin, morphine, oxycodone (OxyCont in), Hydrocodone (Vicodin), fentanyl,
methadone, and codeine.
III. Training:
A. Initial Training – All Sacr amento County Sher iff’s Deputies will receive initial
training that will include the fo llowing as detailed by EMS:
1. Overview of California Civ il Code 1714.22, which permits law
enforcement administration of Naloxone.
2. Patient assessment for signs and symptoms of overdose.
3. Universal precautions.
4. Rescue breathing
5. Seeking medica l attention.
6. Use of intra-nasal Naloxone
Page 2 of 3 26/09 (NEW 2/18) B. Continuing Education – Sheri ff’s employees will receive refr esher training
every (2) two years.
IV. Deployment:
A. Sacramento Sheriff’s Departm ent will deploy its Naloxone kit s in Department
marked sheriff’s vehicles assig ned to units. The Naloxone kits will be stored
in the following primary locations:
1. One in each patro l car and K9 units
2. One in each supervisor vehicle
3. One in designated detective vehicles
B. Officers will use their trai ning and experience in deciding whether a subject is
suffering from a suspected overdose of opioids.
C. Upon administering Naloxone, off icers shall monitor patient vital signs (e.g.
respirations, pulse) until Fire/E MS personnel arrive on scene.
D. If the initial dose of naloxo ne is ineffective, officers may consider
administering a second dose, and none thereafter, and shall con tinue to
monitor vital signs.
V. Maintenance, Repl acement and Storage
A. An inspection of the Naloxone shall be the responsibility of the officer
assigned to the equipment and s hould be done at the beginning o f each shift.
B. Missing, damaged, or expired Na loxone shall be immediately r eported to a
supervisor or a member of equipment staff.
C. When the Naloxone has been used , the officer should obtain a replacement
kit as soon as reasonably possibl e (Notify designated division equipment
personnel).
D. Officers issued Naloxone should maintain the Naloxone kit in a secured
location in accordance with DEA r egulations (i.e. locked patrol vehicle, patrol
vehicle trunk, glove compartment)
E. Additional replacements of Na loxone will be st ored in a secu red storage
container.
F. Expired units will be removed fr om service and replaced with a new unit.
VI. Reporting Requirements
A. After administering Naloxone t he officer shall document its use in their report.
B. After each administration o f Naloxone in the field, the offi cer shall complete a
Sacramento County Emer gency Medical Services Agency (SCEMSA) La w
Enforcement Naloxone Utilization Report (Attachment A). A comp leted
printout of the SCEMSA report sha ll be attached to the crime, c asualty, or
Page 3 of 3 26/09 (NEW 2/18) incident report. In addition the reporting officer will fax or email the Utilization
Report to the Naloxone Program Coordinator.
C. The SCEMSA report shall be forwarded to the following:
a. The Department Naloxone coor dinator. The Department Naloxone
coordinator shall report all Nalo xone usages to Sacramento Coun ty
EMS.
b. The Social Services Administ rator to assess community resour ces that
may be available to the patient.