In suburban Arlington Heights Tuesday there was a powerful visual reminder of the deadly toll the opioid crisis is taking--and how a local funeral home is taking action.
Every month this year the Glueckert Funeral home has helped at least one family bury a loved one lost to an opiod overdose. That’s too many, they say, so the funeral home is working to save lives through training and raising awareness.
There are 2,155 purple ribbons placed around the funeral home, one for each person projected to die this year in Illinois from an accidental opioid overdose.
“It can happen to you, your neighbor, anybody and it’s just time that we become aware of how prevalent it is and you can do something about it," the funeral home's co-owner John Gluecket said.
That’s why the Glueckert Funeral Home is hosting training sessions all this week, to teach anyone interested how recognize the signs of an overdose and how to administer naloxone, the overdose reversal medication.
Participants watch training videos and fill out paperwork.
Upon completing the free course, the training is good for three years and participants receive a vial of naloxone to take with them at no cost.
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No appointment is necessary for the training that takes about 45 minutes and will hopefully save lives.
“This is happening to citizens across this country," Glueckert told NBC 5. "Sitting here in Arlington Heights, we are not immune.”
The training sessions are being held several times a day through Friday--which is International Overdose Awareness Day.
A candlelight vigil will be held at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Lake Arlington to remember all lives lost to an overdose.
