A new app aimed at preventing overdose deaths among people who use illicit drugs has launched in the Interior Health Area.
B.C.’s Additions Minister Judy Darcy says the Lifeguard app could not have come at a better time, as she says the province is battling two public health emergencies right now – the overdose crisis and COVID-19.
“And we have to ensure that we have all the possible tools in the toolbox and that people who use drugs, who are struggling with additions, have the resources they need when and where they need them,” she said, on NL Newsday.
“We know, from the Coroners reports that the majority of people [who] use drugs alone are using them in hotels or at home or in shelters.”
The user has to activate the app before taking a dose of their drugs. It will sound an alarm after 50 seconds, and if its not turned off, the alarm will grow louder. After 75 seconds, the app will automatically call 911, alerting emergency medical dispatchers of a potential overdose.
“This Lifeguard app really is a new and innovate approach that can directly link people to emergency responders if an overdose does occur,” Darcy added. “One of our biggest challenges in this overdose crisis is reaching people who use drugs alone.”
First launched across Island Health, the app made its way to the Interior this week, and it will be launched across regional health authorities in a phased manner until early June.
“The Provincial Health Services Authority worked with Lifeguard and they piloted this over the last couple of years with a limited number of people, but they did have very positive results,” noted Darcy. “We’re very very encouraged by the results that they had so far.”
Added Jeff Hardy, the CEO and founder of Lifeguard Digital Health, ‘we have been working on this life-saving application for over two years to ensure it will effectively help to reduce some of the harm caused by the overdose crisis by enabling drug users to be active participants.”
You can download the app both the App Store and Google Play.
Today we’re announcing a new tool that connects those at risk of overdose to 911 emergency medical help if they become unconscious. The LifeGuard App has been developed to recognize more than half of all overdose deaths occur when people use while alone. https://t.co/4voIAhG2Hq pic.twitter.com/JHMqpBeuyn
— Prov Health Services (@PHSAofBC) May 20, 2020
