For Immediate Release

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

*Media Advisory*

TOMORROW — P.A.A.R.I. and Gloucester Police to Provide Nasal Narcan Training to Commercial Fishermen

GLOUCESTER — John Rosenthal, Co-founder and Chairman of the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (P.A.A.R.I.), Allie Hunter McDade, Executive Director of P.A.A.R.I., Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and Police Chief John McCarthy are pleased to announce that the City of Gloucester, in conjunction with the Fishing Partnership Support Services, Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association and the Coast Guard, will offer CPR, first aid and nasal naloxone training to commercial fisherman tomorrow morning.

WHEN:

Friday, March 31 at 9 a.m.

WHERE:

Endicott College Gloucester, 33 Commercial St., Gloucester

WHAT:

Approximately 40 fishermen are attending the CPR/first aid course tomorrow, which will include a segment where they learn how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose, including how to administer nasal Narcan, which will then become another staple instrument included in their first aid kits.

The training is part of a larger partnership between P.A.A.R.I. and Gloucester’s fishing community aimed at raising awareness on opioid addiction and providing vital nasal naloxone (Narcan) training to community members.

“Through community partnerships, we are working together to offer this important training to our industry workers, city employees and families,” Mayor Romeo Theken said. “I look forward to continuing the work we are doing to educate our community members.”

Additionally, the plan is for every commercial boat that is docked in Gloucester to have its owner, captain, and crew trained on how to use Narcan in the coming months. P.A.A.R.I. also hopes to reach other fishing communities to provide nasal naloxone training and education, and members are currently working with Fishing Partnership Support Services to explore potential projects in areas like Plymouth, New Bedford, Chatham and Kennebunk, Maine.

“Although P.A.A.R.I. has grown into a national movement, our roots are in Gloucester, a community famous for its fishing industry,” Hunter McDade said. “Without nasal naloxone on hand, an opioid overdose at sea would almost certainly be fatal. This new partnership will ensure that Gloucester’s fishermen and every commercial fishing boat based in Gloucester will have lifesaving nasal naloxone in their first aid kit.”

A few weeks ago, a fisherman overdosed on a docked boat. Two Gloucester police officers responded to the scene and were able to revive the man using three of the 2-mg nasal naloxone doses.

“Any overdose that occurred at sea would most likely be fatal, as there would not be enough time for the Coast Guard or a Gloucester first responder to arrive in time to revive that person,” Chief McCarthy said. “This is why it is imperative that all members of a crew are trained on how to use this lifesaving opioid reversal drug.”

Approximately 50 kits, each with two 4-mg doses of Narcan, are being provided by P.A.A.R.I. through a donation from Adapt Pharma, will be distributed at the training.

“The opioid epidemic is hitting our coastal communities hard. As usual, it’s even more deadly for fishermen because ambulances don’t go where fishermen fish,” said J.J. Bartlett, President, Fishing Partnership Support Services. “We are pleased to announce a partnership with P.A.A.R.I. and the City of Gloucester and to include Narcan training in all CPR/first aid courses from this point forward.”

P.A.A.R.I. is also planning to host a follow-up event in the coming months to train additional Gloucester fishermen, captains and boat owners.

“We know that opioid addiction affects all aspects of a city or town, and we’re happy to be partnering with yet another group in the Gloucester community to ensure that more people are trained on how to use Narcan,” Rosenthal said. “Given this nation’s current opioid epidemic, Narcan has become a critical tool in first aid. The more people we can train on using nasal naloxone, the more lives we can save.”

“While the circumstances of this program reveal how widespread the opioid epidemic is, we are inspired by the proactive and thoughtful work being done by PAARI and the Gloucester Police Department,” said Thom Duddy – Executive Director of Communications at Adapt Pharma. “This program enables community members to identify potential overdose scenarios and prepare for an effective overdose reversal response, especially in situations where emergency responders are unavailable, too far away or unreachable and a friend, colleague or family member assumes the role of first responder.”

“The more community members trained and equipped with potentially life-saving tools like NARCAN® Nasal Spray, the more we will be able to prepare for overdose scenarios in a range of personal and professional settings, such as boating and fishing.”

WHO:

• John Rosenthal, Co-founder and Chairman of P.A.A.R.I.
• Allie Hunter McDade, Executive Director of P.A.A.R.I.
• Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken
• Police Chief John McCarthy
• Kathy Day, approved Massachusetts Department of Public Health naloxone Trainer
• Representatives from the Fishing Partnership Support Services
• Members of the Coast Guard
• The Fishermen’s Wives Association

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