York College Students Lead Life-Saving NARCAN Training Initiative
A student-led NARCAN training session at York College of Pennsylvania proved to be a resounding success, with approximately 75 students, faculty, and staff participating in the life-saving initiative.
The event, organized by nursing major Hannah Starowicz and hosted by the Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP) at York College, aimed to equip attendees with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to opioid overdoses.
“This NARCAN training is so important because it provides students with the knowledge and skills to potentially save someone’s life in an emergency and prevent opioid overdose deaths,” Starowicz said. “Opioid addiction affects so many, and the training promotes a community-wide approach to help. It’s about people caring enough about their community to become educated on how to care for each other.”
Held in Weinstock Lecture Hall, the one-hour session educated participants on opioid overdose statistics in Pennsylvania, how to recognize overdose symptoms, and the step-by-step process for administering NARCAN. This medication can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Each attendee also received a personal NARCAN kit.
According to Starowicz, the York College community has embraced the importance of these training sessions. “The response in the community here on campus has been positive, with more students and faculty coming to be trained each semester, which shows that they want to learn and understand how important this training is.”
For those considering participating in future sessions, Starowicz encourages them to take the opportunity. “If you are thinking about doing this training, you definitely should. There’s no medical experience needed, and the knowledge you learn is quick, simple, and could save a life.”
With opioid addiction continuing to be a public health crisis, the hope is that training like this will help foster a more supportive and prepared community. “I hope that by educating people and facilitating community training events that spark conversation, we can create a more supportive community for people struggling and that ultimately, this training will mean fewer lives will be lost,” Starowicz added.
York College remains committed to empowering its students and faculty with vital knowledge and resources to address pressing public health concerns. With the continued success of NARCAN training sessions, the campus community is taking meaningful steps to combat opioid overdoses and save lives.
