On Wednesday, students from Ohio University Southern and the Collins Career and Technical Center along with many first responders gathered on the campus of OUS to run through a mock chemical release as part of an annual hazardous material training session.

The hazardous material for this simulation was the powerful opioid fentanyl, an echo of an actual hazmat situation that happened this August at the Ross Correctional Institute in Chillicothe

In the real situation, a prisoner showed signs of overdosing on fentanyl and was saved by the use of NARCAN. But somehow, people including a nurse, corrections officers and inmates were exposed and treated for nausea, sweating and drowsiness.

The OUS simulation brought students from a number of different courses to work together in a situation that could happen later when they are nurses, hazmat crew member, police officer, or EMT.

With the opioid crisis affecting every aspect life in southern Ohio, it is a sad necessity for our schools to need to train our future first responders in dealing with a very serious situation.

We commend OUS and CCTC to have the foresight to help students get the experience they need in a safe environment.