On Wednesday afternoon, Dr. Wen joined former Baltimore City Health Commissioner Peter Beilenson’s class at Johns Hopkins University to discuss public health in Baltimore City.

Dr. Wen captivated students while discussing the various roles and functions of BCHD, including restaurant inspections and animal control, as well as elaborated about the larger health issues facing the city: food and nutrition, opioid overdose, and HIV.

During the conversation about opioid overdose and its prevention, Dr. Wen discussed one of the major problems in public health today, which is the severe lack of funding. She said that one of her greatest battles in this field is ensuring that these issues have a “seat at the table” and are constantly being made known to the public and legislators. She reminded the students that this is so crucial in the field because “your life is saved by public health every day, you just don’t know about it.”

One of the most interesting conversations topics surrounded overdose and its prevention. Dr. Wen discussed the importance of naloxone, the prescription medication which almost instantaneously helps reverse opioid overdose.

Baltimore Corps Fellows, Evan and Kelsey, presented the online training to become certified in naloxone. Many of the students were surprised to learn that the training so quick and easy—especially because it showed them how easy it is for them to be able to save a life. To get certified, it’s as easy as doing the 15 minute online course.

It takes only three easy steps to help save someone’s life during an opioid overdose:

1. Check to see if they are overdosing (check here to see the symptoms) by yelling to wake them up or rubbing your fist along their breastbone.
2. If they do not wake up or respond, call 9-1-1 and tell them that the person is unconscious and not responding. At the same time, administer the intramuscular naloxone medication.
3. It will take about 2-3 minutes for the naloxone to kick in. During that time, help get air into the persons lungs by implementing Rescue Breathing. If they do not wake up, repeat Step 2 by administering a second dose of naloxone.

For more details about this process, check out dontdie.org for more information.