Pompano Beach Fire Rescue and The Robin Foundation Launch Overdose Emergency Cabinets Across the City

Pompano Beach Fire Rescue and The Robin Foundation Launch Overdose Emergency Cabinets Across the City

Pompano Beach Fire Rescue, in partnership with The Robin Foundation, has launched new Overdose Emergency Cabinets (OECs) at 17 locations throughout the City of Pompano Beach as part of a proactive effort to combat the opioid crisis and save lives.

The Overdose Emergency Cabinets are secure, highly visible response stations designed to provide immediate access to life-saving overdose intervention supplies. Each cabinet contains free Narcan (Naloxone), the medication used to rapidly reverse opioid overdoses, along with step-by-step educational materials that enable bystanders to respond confidently during an emergency.

By placing OECs alongside Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in public locations throughout the city, Pompano Beach Fire Rescue is treating opioid overdoses as the time-sensitive medical emergencies they are.

"Every second matters during an overdose emergency," said Fire Chief Pete McGinnis. "These cabinets give community members the tools and information they need to take immediate action and potentially save a life before first responders arrive."

The initiative is fully funded through Opioid Settlement Funds, which direct money from opioid manufacturers and distributors back into communities for remediation, prevention, and recovery efforts.

Florida's Good Samaritan Act protects bystanders who assist during an overdose emergency, ensuring that fear of liability does not prevent someone from taking potentially life-saving action.

The program builds on The Robin Foundation's proven success in overdose prevention efforts. In 2023 alone, the organization's Narcan distribution initiatives resulted in 14 confirmed life-saving overdose reversals.

The City of Pompano Beach, Pompano Beach Fire Rescue, and The Robin Foundation remain committed to expanding public access to overdose response resources, increasing awareness, and strengthening community safety through education and prevention.

**Photo: (left) Chris Cavallo President/CEO The Robins Foundation and (right) Matthew Aldrich, Assistant Chief of EMS

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