Kaléo Inc. has awarded the Kane County Health Department a grant for 692 cartons of Evzio naloxone auto-injectors, with a total value of $380,600.

The auto-injectors will allow the Health Department to continue training police and other first responders in the use of the life-saving devices. Naloxone, also sold as Narcan, is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, such as heroin, or prescription opioid painkillers such as morphine or hydrocodone. This restores breathing in overdose victims, and gives them the chance to be transported to a hospital for treatment.

The Kane County Health Department launched the program in September 2014, which has allowed 590 police officers to be trained in the use of naloxone delivery systems, first via nasal spray and now through the Evzio auto-injector, which is manufactured by Kaléo. Evzio auto-injectors feature voice guidance and are simpler to use than nasally administered naloxone.

In the past year, naloxone has saved the lives of eight Kane County residents when administered after an overdose.

As current supplies of nasally administered naloxone are used up, staff from the Kane County Health Department will re-train officers to use the Evzio auto-injector