Chippewa County to Stock Overdose Aid Kits in Public Schools

Chippewa County Public Health has announced that overdose aid kits will be placed in all public schools in the county this year.

The kits will include items like Narcan, CPR breathing barriers, fentanyl test strips, and packets for unused medications. According to health officials, the kits will be provided in partnership with The Clinton Foundation. The agency will place a total of 32 kits at public schools across the county to provide added protection for kids who may come into contact with opioids. Additionally, the kits will open new educational opportunities for students and staff on prevention strategies.

Narcan, which contains Naloxone, can be used to reverse an opioid overdose. The medication commonly appears in the harm reduction vending machines that have been spreading across the Chippewa Valley as health organizations and schools look to tackle the opioid epidemic. Those vending machines also typically include fentanyl test strips to minimize the potential risk for people who use opioids, as well as hygiene items, gun locks, and medication disposal bags.

Many counties have seen great success in reducing the number of overdose deaths with the harm reduction vending machines. In November, Ashland County officials announced they were seeking funding to add more of the vending machines after seeing a decrease in overdose deaths. At the time, one vending machine at the fire station had already distributed more than 80 boxes of Narcan. Eau Claire County also launched an opioid data dashboard in 2024 to track overdose data and tailor prevention and harm reduction strategies to address those areas.

Residents can find more information on recognizing signs of an overdose and instructions on how to administer Narcan on the Chippewa County Department of Public Health’s website.