DAY 1. FIRST RESPONDER SPEAKERS
Major Lance Jones
Major Lance Jones, with the Oklahoma City Fire Department, who was named Firefighter of the Year 2024, has dedicated 19 years to Oklahoma. Leveraging his expertise as an EMT Paramedic and RN, Major Jones spearheaded the creation of OKCFD's Overdose Response Program. This initiative, developed in partnership with the Hope Community Foundation, provides vital resources, including leave-behind overdose kits with Fentanyl test strips and Narcan, to connect individuals affected by opioid substance use with treatment and long-term care.
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Coming Soon
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More Information • Coming Soon •
Experts Take the Battle with Addiction to the Streets
The Oklahoma City Fire Department is proactively addressing the city's growing drug and mental health crisis with a proposed 20-person Crisis Response Team, integrated into the 2025 fire department budget. This initiative expands upon the success of last summer's two-person overdose team, led by OCFD paramedic Major Lance Jones, which provides
immediate response and follow-up care, including connecting individuals with vital resources and transportation to behavioral health centers. The new team, designed to respond to a broader range of emergencies from overdose calls to suicide attempts, will feature mental health professionals working in 911 call centers and responding in person with police, aiming to offer a dedicated resource that allows law enforcement to disengage safely while ensuring individuals in crisis receive comprehensive support and hope for a better outcome.