Winnebago County Puts Opioid Settlement Money to Use

Winnebago County is benefitting from the disbursement of opioid settlement monies to better prepare the county ambulance systems and the jail system too.

Winnebago County Auditor Karla Weiss oversees the distribution of the funding to the Public Health Department, the county ambulance services, the Winnebago County Jail system, and opioid prevention programs in the county.

The county has also purchased equipment to aid in helping those with an opioid overdose according to Weiss.

Weiss also stated that the county has outfitted the Winnebago County Jail with a tracking system for someone with a possible opioid issue.

Winnebago County Public Health has also been involved with training programs according to Administrator Julie Sorenson.

The county has been looking to place Automatic Electronic Defibrillators (AED’s) into frequented businesses, churches, and gathering locations throughout the county. Weiss stated that there was hardly any training involved in operating the devices.

Those organizations who are interested in being considered for an AED station at their location in Winnebago County can contact either the Winnebago County Auditors Office or Winnebago County Public Health.