ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Chera Kowalski - Librarian
Chera Kowalski is championing the transformation of her library into a safe, responsive space for the community it serves.

Why you should listen

Chera Kowalski is revolutionizing the way public resources are meeting the needs of the communities they serve. As the Adult Teen Librarian at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s McPherson Square Branch, this often means saving lives. 

After witnessing drug overdoses firsthand at her library and the nearby park, Kowalski volunteered to receive training in overdose defense through Prevention Point Philadelphia and now advocates for training for other librarians and community members to learn how to administer naloxone -- a life-saving drug that reverses the effects of opioids -- to people in distress. Motivated by her personal experiences as the daughter of parents who have maintained recovery from opioid use, Kowalski is transforming her library into a safe, responsive space for her community that is able to help people with whatever they need in a supportive, judgment-free way. Kowalski is a graduate of Temple University's College of Liberal Arts and the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences.

More profile about the speaker
Chera Kowalski | Speaker | TED.com
TEDMED 2017

Chera Kowalski: The critical role librarians play in the opioid crisis

澈柔 · 卡娃斯基: 圖書館員在鴉片類危機中發揮的關鍵作用

Filmed:
1,273,110 views

一直以來,公共圖書館不僅僅是書籍而已;在目前的鴉片類疫情期間,支持社區的使命也已成為新的緊迫事項。 澈柔 · 卡娃斯基在費城的圖書館裡目睹吸毒過量事件後,學會如何使用納洛酮這種藥物來扭轉毒品的影響,挽救性命。 她在這次演講分享面對鴉片類危機第一線的現實日常情況,並倡導我們每個人找新的方法來捍衛社區的安全和健康。
- Librarian
Chera Kowalski is championing the transformation of her library into a safe, responsive space for the community it serves. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:12
When you walk步行 into your
neighborhood鄰里 public上市 library圖書館,
0
760
2856
當你走進你附近的公共圖書館時,
00:15
you expect期望 the librarian圖書管理員
to help you find your next下一個 favorite喜愛 book
1
3640
3616
會期待圖書館員幫你找到
下一本你喜歡的書,
00:19
or some accurate準確 information信息
on a topic話題 at interest利益.
2
7280
3656
或關於某個主題的準確信息。
00:22
You don't probably大概 expect期望 the librarian圖書管理員
3
10960
2296
你大概不指望圖書館員
00:25
to come running賽跑 out from behind背後
the reference參考 desk with NarcanNarcan,
4
13280
3656
拿著納洛酮(Narcan)
從參考諮詢服務臺後面跑出來,
00:28
ready準備 to revive復活 someone有人
overdosing過量 on heroin海洛因 or fentanyl芬太尼.
5
16960
4440
準備救醒過量使用
海洛因或吩坦尼的人。
00:34
But this is happening事件 at some libraries圖書館.
6
22520
2736
但這正發生在一些圖書館裡。
00:37
Public上市 libraries圖書館 have always been
about community社區 support支持
7
25280
3296
一直以來,公共圖書館
以支持社區為目標,
00:40
with all kinds of services服務 and programs程式
8
28600
2216
提供各種服務和方案:
00:42
from assisting協助 with job工作 seeking efforts努力
9
30840
2336
幫助找工作、
00:45
to locating定位 resources資源 for voter選民 rights權利
10
33200
2656
找選民權利的資源,
00:47
to providing提供 free自由 meals
to kids孩子 and teens青少年 even.
11
35880
3296
甚至提供兒童和青少年免費的餐點。
00:51
But what we think of as community社區 support支持
takes on new urgency
12
39200
3936
但處於類鴉片和過量危機之間,
00:55
when you're in the middle中間
of an opioid阿片 and overdose過量 crisis危機.
13
43160
3200
帶來了新的社區支持急迫感。
00:59
I work at the McPherson麥克弗森 Square廣場 Library圖書館
of the Free自由 Library圖書館 of Philadelphia費城.
14
47240
4096
我任職於費城免費的
麥克弗森廣場圖書館,
01:03
It's located位於 in Kensington肯辛頓,
15
51360
1856
位於費城最低收入社區之一的肯辛頓,
01:05
one of the lowest最低 income收入
communities社區 in Philadelphia費城,
16
53240
3296
01:08
with a long history歷史 of being存在 isolated孤立
from resources資源 and opportunity機會.
17
56560
4520
與資源和機會隔絕的歷史悠久。
01:13
And because of that,
18
61720
1216
因此,數十年來,
01:14
it has been the center中央 to the city's城市的
drug藥物 trade貿易 and drug藥物 use for decades幾十年.
19
62960
4880
它一直是該市毒品貿易
和毒品使用的中心。
01:20
And so inside the neighborhood鄰里,
20
68920
1696
位置在社區裡,
01:22
our library圖書館 is nestled依偎 inside of a park公園,
21
70640
3056
我們的圖書館坐落在一個公園內,
01:25
which哪一個 has unfortunately不幸
garnered囊括 a reputation聲譽
22
73720
2336
不幸的是公園已廣為人知
01:28
for being存在 a place地點 to find and use drugs毒品,
23
76080
2776
是尋找和使用毒品,
01:30
especially特別 heroin海洛因,
24
78880
1616
特別是海洛因的公開場合,
01:32
out in the open打開,
25
80520
1816
01:34
putting us and the community社區
in direct直接 contact聯繫
26
82360
4296
使我們和社區
天天直接接觸到毒品的交易和使用。
01:38
with the drug藥物 trade貿易
and use on a daily日常 basis基礎.
27
86680
2736
01:41
And so inside the library圖書館,
28
89440
1656
所以在圖書館裡
01:43
it is routine常規 to see people
visibly明顯地 intoxicated on opioids阿片類藥物:
29
91120
3576
常看到明顯恍神的類鴉片藥物吸毒者,
01:46
eyes眼睛 closing關閉, body身體 swaying搖曳 slowly慢慢地.
30
94720
3056
他們眼睛閉著,身體緩慢搖擺。
01:49
It is routine常規 for me
to ask them if they are OK,
31
97800
3016
問他們是否還好成了我的例行公事;
01:52
but at the same相同 time remind提醒 them
32
100840
1576
同時還得提醒他們,
01:54
if they can't keep their eyes眼睛 open打開,
33
102440
1696
如果他們睜不開眼睛
01:56
they have to go.
34
104160
1536
就必須離開。
01:57
It is routine常規 for our volunteer志願者, Teddy泰迪熊,
35
105720
3376
我們的志願者泰迪
在我們圖書館範圍和整個公園裡,
02:01
to pick up dozens許多 of discarded丟棄 needles
on our property屬性 and throughout始終 the park公園.
36
109120
5320
收集數十個丟棄的針頭也是例行公事。
02:07
And it is normal正常 for kids孩子
to come into the library圖書館
37
115280
2936
常有孩子們進入圖書館
02:10
to tell me or our guard守衛, Sterling英鎊,
38
118240
2896
告訴我或我們的守衛斯特林,
02:13
that someone有人 is outside using運用,
39
121160
2176
有人在外面使用,通常意思是:
02:15
which哪一個 typically一般 means手段 finding發現
someone有人 injecting注射 on our front面前 steps腳步,
40
123360
4056
看到有人在我們前面的台階上、
02:19
benches長椅
41
127440
1216
長凳上
02:20
or near the building建造,
42
128680
1256
或圖書館附近注射毒品。
02:21
then asking them to move移動 along沿
because kids孩子 see them.
43
129960
3040
我們得要求他們離開,
因為孩子看到他們用毒品了。
02:25
And it is normal正常 for the community社區
44
133680
2096
社區常看得到處於各式
恍神和退縮狀態的人們,
02:27
to see people in various各個 states狀態
of intoxication and withdrawal退出,
45
135800
3976
02:31
to see people buying購買 and selling銷售,
46
139800
2536
看到人們購買和出售毒品,
02:34
and to see people act法案 and react應對 violently猛烈.
47
142360
2720
和看到人們的暴力行為和反應。
02:38
I'm not sharing分享 this
to sensationalize危言聳聽 Kensington肯辛頓.
48
146160
3936
我說這事不是要讓肯辛頓
聽起來危言聳聽。
02:42
I'm sharing分享 this because
this is the reality現實 of a community社區
49
150120
3520
而是因為這是
不斷努力前進的社區的現實;
02:46
that is constantly經常 striving努力
to move移動 forward前鋒,
50
154920
3296
02:50
but due應有 to factors因素 like structural結構 racism種族主義,
51
158240
2456
但是由於諸如結構性種族主義、
02:52
urban城市的 segregation隔離,
52
160720
1496
城市隔離、
02:54
the cyclical週期性 nature性質 of poverty貧窮,
53
162240
2336
周期性的貧困和創傷等因素,
02:56
of trauma外傷 --
54
164600
1296
02:57
the community社區 has inequitable不公 access訪問
55
165920
2376
導致社區的機會不平等,
03:00
to education教育, health健康 care關心,
employment僱用 and more.
56
168320
3240
諸如受教育、
醫療保健、就業和其他的不平等。
03:04
And this is also what it's like
when the drug藥物 trade貿易 and use
57
172960
3296
當毒品的交易和使用
03:08
affects影響 every一切 aspect方面
of life in the neighborhood鄰里.
58
176280
2840
影響到鄰里生活的
每個方面時就會是這樣;
03:12
And the opioid阿片 epidemic疫情
has only amplified放大 that stress強調.
59
180000
3360
而鴉片類疫情只會放大這種壓力。
03:16
When I was hired僱用
by the Free自由 Library圖書館 in 2013,
60
184440
3296
在 2013 年免費圖書館雇用我時,
03:19
I specifically特別 chose選擇 to work at McPherson麥克弗森
61
187760
3056
我特別選擇在麥克弗森任職,
03:22
because I understand理解 what it's like
to grow增長 up in an environment環境
62
190840
3056
因為我了解在這樣的環境裡長大,
03:25
where substance物質 use disorder紊亂
shapes形狀 the everyday每天,
63
193920
3176
日常使用毒品所造成的紊亂感覺。
03:29
and I wanted to use
those personal個人 experiences經驗
64
197120
2696
我想以個人的經歷
03:31
as a guide指南 for my work.
65
199840
1440
作為工作的指導。
03:34
But before I get to that,
66
202120
1376
但在談那之前,
03:35
I want to share分享 what it was like
67
203520
1656
我想分享在肯辛頓
03:37
to witness見證 this epidemic疫情
grow增長 in Kensington肯辛頓.
68
205200
2320
見證這種流行病的增長是什麼樣子。
03:41
Like many許多 other communities社區,
we were just not prepared準備.
69
209080
3296
像許多其他社區一樣
我們就是還沒準備好。
03:44
We began開始 to take notice注意
of IDsid we were seeing眼看:
70
212400
2536
我們開始注意到這樣的景況:
03:46
addresses地址 from nearby附近 and upstate北部 counties
71
214960
2856
先是州北部的附近幾個郡,
03:49
and then slowly慢慢地 out-of-state非狀態 ones那些.
72
217840
2336
然後慢慢地有外州的,
03:52
People from Arkansas阿肯色州,
Ohio俄亥俄州, South Carolina卡羅來納州, Alabama阿拉巴馬
73
220200
4176
來自阿肯色州、俄亥俄州、
南卡羅來納州、阿拉巴馬州的人
03:56
coming未來 to Philadelphia費城 for cheap低廉 heroin海洛因.
74
224400
2360
來費城購買便宜的海洛因。
04:00
People began開始 to linger縈繞 longer
and longer in our public上市 restroom衛生間,
75
228000
4016
人們開始在我們的公廁裡
逗留的時間越來越長,
04:04
causing造成 us to pay工資
more attention注意 to the restroom衛生間
76
232040
2376
導致我們得更關注洗手間,
04:06
than to our daily日常 responsibilities責任
77
234440
2216
而不是我們的日常工作責任,
04:08
because it was an accessible無障礙 place地點
to use drugs毒品 just purchased購買.
78
236680
3400
因為廁所是使用
剛買的毒品的便利場所。
04:12
One day our toilet廁所 clogged堵塞
so badly in the restroom衛生間,
79
240840
3776
有一天我們的廁所馬桶被嚴重堵塞,
04:16
we were forced被迫 to close
our library圖書館 for two days
80
244640
2816
使得圖書館被迫關閉了兩天,
04:19
because the culprit罪魁禍首 of the clog阻塞
was discarded丟棄 needles.
81
247480
2760
因為堵塞的罪魁禍首是廢棄的針頭。
04:22
For a while prior to that incident事件,
82
250880
2176
在事件發生前一段時間,
04:25
we had been asking for a sharps銳器
container容器 for the restroom衛生間,
83
253080
3175
我們一直在尋求在廁所裡
裝個放尖物的容器;
04:28
and after that,
84
256279
1216
在那之後,
04:29
the library圖書館 administration行政
quickly很快 approved批准 installing安裝 one
85
257519
3137
圖書館的管理部門
迅速批准裝了一個,
04:32
along沿 with hiring招聘 bathroom浴室 monitors顯示器.
86
260680
2160
也裝了廁所的監視器。
04:36
And as the weather天氣 warmed溫暖,
87
264880
1456
隨著天氣變暖,
04:38
we struggled掙扎 to respond響應.
88
266360
1616
我們努力因應。
04:40
People began開始 camping露營 out
in the park公園 for days, weeks.
89
268000
3976
人們開始在公園裡露宿幾天、幾週。
04:44
You could walk步行 outside
on a sunny晴朗, warm day
90
272000
2416
在陽光明媚、溫暖的一天外出散步,
04:46
to find multiple groups of people
in various各個 states狀態 of intoxication
91
274440
5176
會看到各式各樣恍神的人們,
04:51
and children孩子 playing播放 in between之間 them.
92
279640
1800
以及在他們之間穿梭玩耍的孩子。
04:54
The amount of needles collected
by Teddy泰迪熊 on a monthly每月一次 basis基礎 skyrocketed暴漲
93
282120
5376
泰迪每個月收集的針頭數急遽增加,
04:59
from 100 to 300 to 500 to 800,
94
287520
4296
從 100 增加到 300、
到 500、到 800,
05:03
to over 1,000,
95
291840
1440
到超過 1,000,
05:06
with many許多 found發現 on our front面前 steps腳步
and the playground操場.
96
294120
3400
發現許多針頭棄置在
我們前面的台階和操場上。
05:11
Then there were the overdoses過量.
97
299040
2880
還有吸食過量。
05:14
So many許多 occurred發生 outside in the park公園,
98
302640
3656
很多發生在圖書館外的公園,
05:18
some inside the library圖書館.
99
306320
2200
有些發生在圖書館內。
05:21
Sterling英鎊, our guard守衛, would spend his time
walking步行 in and out of the building建造
100
309160
4616
我們的守衛斯特林
會花時間進出大樓和整個公園,
05:25
and throughout始終 the park公園,
101
313800
1256
05:27
constantly經常 making製造 sure everyone大家 was safe安全,
102
315080
3216
不間斷地確保每個人都安然無恙,
05:30
because at times,
103
318320
1856
因為有時候我們所害怕的
05:32
our fear恐懼 of having someone有人
overdose過量 and die came來了 close.
104
320200
3320
有人會吸毒過量致死差一點發生了。
05:36
One overdose過量 in particular特定
occurred發生 after school學校,
105
324680
2696
有次的過量事件發生在放學後,
05:39
so the library圖書館 was full充分 of kids孩子,
noise噪聲 and commotion騷動.
106
327400
3376
當時圖書館裡滿是孩子、
噪音和騷動。
05:42
And in all of that,
107
330800
1496
就在這一切聲音當中,
05:44
we heard聽說 the thud轟的一聲
from inside the public上市 restroom衛生間.
108
332320
2480
我們聽到了公共洗手間內
有人倒地的聲音。
05:47
When we opened打開 the door,
we found發現 a man on the floor地板, unresponsive反應 遲鈍.
109
335520
3176
我們打開門時,
發現地板上有個人昏迷不醒。
05:50
He was pulled out
in plain sight視力 of everyone大家 --
110
338720
2216
每個人都看得到他被拉出來──
05:52
kids孩子, teens青少年, adults成年人, families家庭.
111
340960
2816
孩子、青少年、成人和家庭。
05:55
Someone有人 on staff員工 called 911,
112
343800
1976
有個圖書館員打電話給 911,
05:57
someone有人 else其他 escorted護送 the kids孩子
and teens青少年 downstairs樓下,
113
345800
2936
另一個陪著孩子和青少年們下樓,
06:00
somebody went to flag down
the ambulance救護車 in the park公園.
114
348760
2920
還有一個去公園指揮救護車。
06:04
And the rest休息 of us --
115
352480
1776
而我們其他人只是等著。
06:06
we just waited等待.
116
354280
1856
06:08
This had become成為 our overdose過量 drill鑽頭
117
356160
2096
這已成為我們的過量演習,
06:10
because at the time,
it was all we could do.
118
358280
2856
因為當時我們只能如此。
06:13
So we waited等待 and we watched看著
this man lose失去 air空氣 --
119
361160
2976
我們等著、看著這個人吸不到氣、
06:16
seize搶占 up.
120
364160
1696
痙攣,
06:17
He was dying垂死.
121
365880
1320
他快死了。
06:19
I don't know how many許多 of you
have witnessed目擊 an overdose過量 on opioids阿片類藥物,
122
367960
3776
我不知道你們之中有多少人
目睹過鴉片類藥物的過量使用。
06:23
but it's horrific可怕的
123
371760
1456
它真可怕。
06:25
because you know the gasping喘氣 for air空氣,
124
373240
2616
因為正如你所知,掙扎著要吸到氣、
06:27
the loss失利 of color顏色 in someone's誰家 face面對,
125
375880
2376
臉色變蒼白,
06:30
is a timer計時器 running賽跑 down
on the chances機會 of this person surviving倖存.
126
378280
3600
是這個人生命流逝的倒數計時。
06:35
But luckily for this man,
127
383360
1376
但這個人很幸運,
06:36
the ambulance救護車 arrived到達
128
384760
1416
救護車到了,
06:38
and he received收到 a dose劑量
of naloxone納洛酮 through通過 injection注射.
129
386200
3480
給他注射一劑納洛酮。
06:42
And I remember記得 he jolted震動
like he was electrocuted觸電,
130
390600
3216
我記得他像被觸電一樣震起,
06:45
and he pulled the needle out,
131
393850
1436
他拔出針頭,
06:47
and he told the paramedics醫護人員 to back off.
132
395316
1854
告訴醫務人員退後,
06:50
And then he stood站在 up, and he walked out.
133
398400
2280
然後站起來,走了出去。
06:54
And we --
134
402080
1216
而我們──
06:55
we went back to work
135
403320
1616
我們繼續工作,
06:56
because people were still asking
for time on the computers電腦,
136
404960
3176
因為人們仍要求使用電腦,
07:00
kids孩子 still needed需要 help with their homework家庭作業
137
408160
2176
孩子們仍需協助完成作業,
07:02
and this was our job工作 --
138
410360
1216
這是我們的工作、我們的用途。
07:03
our purpose目的.
139
411600
1200
07:07
I think that incident事件 stays入住 with me
because of the waiting等候.
140
415040
4616
我認為是因為等待
而使我忘不了這件事。
07:11
It made製作 me feel helpless無助.
141
419680
1560
等待讓我感到無助。
07:13
And it was that feeling感覺 of helplessness無奈
that reminded提醒 me so well of my childhood童年.
142
421880
4656
那種無助感讓我憶起童年。
07:18
Before I was born天生,
both of my parents父母 began開始 using運用 heroin海洛因.
143
426560
3360
我出生前父母開始吸食海洛因,
07:22
It made製作 our lives生活 chaotic混亂的 and unstable不穩定:
144
430640
2216
使得我們的生活變得混亂不穩:
07:24
promises許諾 being存在 made製作 and constantly經常 broken破碎,
145
432880
2456
許下的諾言不斷地被打破,
07:27
their fighting戰鬥,
the weight重量 of their secret秘密 --
146
435360
2216
他們的爭執和秘密的重量,
07:29
the weight重量 of our secret秘密 kept不停 so much
so-called所謂 "normal正常" out of our lives生活.
147
437600
4800
我們秘密的重量
把我們大多的生活
排除在所謂「正常」之外。
07:35
Every一切 time we'd星期三 be dropped下降 off
at our grandparent's祖父母的 house,
148
443760
2736
每當我們被丟在祖父母家時,
07:38
I'd be stuck卡住 on the thought
that I was never going to see them again.
149
446520
3256
認為我再也見不照他們的
想法揮之不去。
07:41
Every一切 time we'd星期三 be left in a car汽車,
at a house, at a store商店,
150
449800
3576
每當我們被留在車裡、
在房子裡、在商店裡,
07:45
I'd cry.
151
453400
1576
我都會哭泣。
07:47
And every一切 time I saw those El薩爾瓦多 tracks軌道 --
152
455000
2576
每當我看到那些高架列車──
(註:市區載客通勤的高架列車)
07:49
the same相同 ones那些 I take
to work now to McPherson麥克弗森 --
153
457600
3216
我去麥克弗森工作
日常搭乘的那些列車──
07:52
from the backseat後座 of a car汽車,
154
460840
1816
在車的後座
07:54
I'd be angry憤怒,
155
462680
1496
我都會生氣,
07:56
because even kids孩子 know
156
464200
2176
因為即使孩子們也看得出
07:58
when their parents父母
are trying to score得分了 drugs毒品.
157
466400
2280
他們的父母正打算要吸毒。
08:02
There was so little I could do
to control控制 what was going on around me,
158
470040
3640
我幾近無法控制周圍發生的事情,
08:06
that that feeling感覺 of helplessness無奈
was overwhelming壓倒.
159
474760
2576
那種無助感壓垮了我。
08:09
I struggled掙扎 in school學校, struggled掙扎 to read,
160
477360
2856
我掙扎於學業、讀書之中,
08:12
I was prone易於 to anger憤怒 and depression蕭條.
161
480240
2016
我很容易生氣和沮喪。
08:14
When I was 11 years年份 old,
I started開始 smoking抽煙,
162
482280
2336
我 11 歲時開始吸煙,
08:16
which哪一個 shortly不久 after led to my own擁有
experiences經驗 with drugs毒品 and alcohol.
163
484640
3840
不久後導致我自己吸毒和酗酒。
08:21
I convinced相信 myself that my parents'父母' past過去
would be my future未來.
164
489280
3720
那時我相信
父母的過去將會是我的未來。
08:26
But eventually終於 both of my parents父母
entered進入 recovery復甦
165
494120
2696
但最終我的雙親戒毒了,
08:28
and maintained保持 recovery復甦 from opioid阿片 use.
166
496840
2176
並且一直維持著不再用鴉片類藥物。
08:31
And their strength強度 and their commitment承諾
167
499040
2536
他們的力量和承諾
08:33
provided提供 support支持 and stability穩定性
for me and my siblings兄弟姐妹,
168
501600
3656
為我和兄弟姐妹提供了支持和穩定,
08:37
and it was those personal個人 experiences經驗
that brought me to McPherson麥克弗森.
169
505280
4496
正是那些個人的經歷
將我帶到麥克弗森。
08:41
Choosing選擇 to be a librarian圖書管理員
170
509800
1656
選擇成為圖書館員,
08:43
and choosing選擇 to be at McPherson麥克弗森
171
511480
1736
並且選擇在麥克弗森工作,
08:45
was me letting出租 go
of that feeling感覺 of helplessness無奈
172
513240
2775
讓我摒棄了那種無助的感覺,
08:48
and finding發現 ways方法
to be supportive支持 to others其他.
173
516039
2640
並且設法幫助別人。
08:51
And one way to provide提供 support支持
174
519280
2056
一種提供幫助的方法
08:53
was learning學習 how to administer管理 NarcanNarcan.
175
521360
2240
是學習如何施用納洛酮。
08:56
Public上市 libraries圖書館 respond響應
to the needs需求 of their communities社區,
176
524640
3616
公共圖書館回應社區的需求,
09:00
and not knowing會心 how to utilize利用 NarcanNarcan
177
528280
2056
而不知道如何利用納洛酮
09:02
was a disservice幫倒忙
to the needs需求 of our community社區.
178
530360
3496
有損我們社區的需求。
09:05
We were on the frontlines前線
179
533880
1456
我們站在前線,
09:07
and desperately拼命 needed需要
access訪問 to this lifesaving救生 tool工具.
180
535360
2960
急需獲得這種救生的工具。
09:11
So finally最後 in late晚了 February二月 of 2017,
181
539400
3216
終於在 2017 年 2 月下旬,
09:14
after much advocating主張,
182
542640
2216
經過多次倡導之後,
09:16
we finally最後 received收到 training訓練
from Prevention預防 Point Philadelphia費城
183
544880
3576
我們終於接受費城預防點的培訓,
09:20
and about a month of so later後來,
184
548480
1456
大約一個月後,
09:21
I utilized利用 NarcanNarcan for the first time
to save保存 someone's誰家 life.
185
549960
2880
我首次用納洛酮拯救別人的性命。
09:25
It was after school學校 again,
186
553560
1256
那又是放學後,
09:26
and Teddy泰迪熊 came來了 into the library圖書館
187
554840
1496
泰迪走進圖書館,
09:28
and said someone有人 was overdosing過量
on a front面前 bench長凳.
188
556360
2536
說前頭的長椅上有人吸毒過量。
09:30
Someone有人 on staff員工 called 911 again,
189
558920
1656
有個館員再次打電話給 911,
09:32
and I grabbed抓起 the NarcanNarcan kit套件.
190
560600
1736
我一把拿起納洛酮工具箱。
09:34
The woman女人 was barely僅僅 in her 20s
and barely僅僅 breathing呼吸.
191
562360
3656
那女人剛 20 歲出頭,
幾乎沒呼吸。
09:38
Her friend朋友 was frantically瘋狂
slapping打耳光 her in the face面對
192
566040
2616
她的朋友瘋狂地拍打她的臉頰,
09:40
in hopes希望 of reviving復興 her.
193
568680
1320
希望拍醒她。
09:42
I administered管理 the NarcanNarcan nasally,
194
570680
2056
我通過她的鼻腔注入納洛酮,
09:44
and thankfully感激地 she came來了 to.
195
572760
1520
幸好她醒了過來。
09:46
But before the ambulance救護車 arrived到達,
196
574800
1696
但在救護車到達之前,
09:48
she and her friend朋友 ran off.
197
576520
1720
她和她的朋友跑走了。
09:51
And when I finally最後 turned轉身 around,
198
579160
2296
當我終於轉身時,
09:53
I saw the kids孩子 --
199
581480
1816
看到了那些孩子──
09:55
kids孩子 that come into the library圖書館
on a daily日常 basis基礎,
200
583320
2496
那些每天進圖書館的孩子,
09:57
some that I have known已知 for years年份 --
201
585840
2616
有些我已經認識多年了──
10:00
standing常設 on the steps腳步 of the building建造.
202
588480
2216
站在大樓的台階上。
10:02
They saw everything.
203
590720
1616
他們看到了一切。
10:04
And they didn't seem似乎
like they were visibly明顯地 upset煩亂 or in shock休克,
204
592360
3520
他們看起來並未
明顯的不安或受到驚嚇,
10:08
and so I walked into the building建造,
205
596600
1656
於是我返回大樓,
10:10
right into our workroom車間, and I cried哭了.
206
598280
2496
進入我們的工作室,哭了起來。
10:12
I cried哭了 partly部分地 from the shock休克
of what just happened發生
207
600800
2416
我哭的部分原因是剛剛發生的事情,
10:15
because I never thought
I'd be saving保存 anybody's任何人的 life ever,
208
603240
2800
因我未曾想過會拯救任何人的性命;
10:19
but I mostly大多 cried哭了 because of the kids孩子.
209
607040
1880
但我更為孩子而哭,
10:21
This is their normal正常.
210
609520
1480
這是他們的日常所見,
10:24
This is the community's社區 normal正常.
211
612000
1840
是社區的常態。
10:26
This is a catastrophic災難性的 normal正常,
212
614760
3096
這是個災難性的正常情況,
10:29
and in that moment時刻,
213
617880
1256
在那一刻,
10:31
I was forced被迫 to confront面對 once一旦 again
that this should never be normal正常,
214
619160
3736
我被迫再次面對這種
永遠不該是日常的情況,
10:34
and as with my childhood童年,
215
622920
1576
就像我的童年一樣,
10:36
when you're in it, you just accept接受 it.
216
624520
2120
當你身處其中,就只能接受它。
10:39
The opioid阿片 epidemic疫情
is not just about those living活的
217
627960
2976
鴉片類物質的流行不僅是因為
10:42
with opioid阿片 use disorder紊亂
218
630960
1696
有鴉片類藥物使用障礙的患者,
10:44
because the reach達到 of the epidemic疫情
goes well beyond those living活的 with this
219
632680
3456
因為這種流行的範圍
遠超出和這些患者
及其家屬一起生活的範圍,
10:48
and their families家庭.
220
636160
1256
10:49
It impacts影響 the entire整個 community社區.
221
637440
2120
它影響到整個社區。
10:52
Kensington肯辛頓 was a community社區
in crisis危機 before this
222
640760
3216
在這之前肯辛頓
已是個處於危機之中的社區,
10:56
for reasons原因 that are endemic流行
and intertwined交織,
223
644000
2976
因為地方性和交織性的原因。
10:59
and anyone任何人 familiar
with the neighborhood鄰里 can think of why:
224
647000
3056
熟悉鄰里的人可以想到是為什麼:
11:02
racial種族 disparities差距,
225
650080
1416
種族的差異、
11:03
failure失敗 of local本地 and federal聯邦 government政府
to properly正確 fund基金 schools學校,
226
651520
3600
地方和聯邦政府沒適當地資助學校、
11:08
lack缺乏 of economic經濟 opportunity機會.
227
656080
1800
缺乏經濟機會。
11:10
And what we're trying to do at McPherson麥克弗森
228
658440
2776
而我們在麥克弗森嘗試
11:13
is find ways方法 to support支持
this community社區 out of crisis危機.
229
661240
4000
找方法來幫助社區擺脫危機。
11:17
And perhaps也許 now, because of the epidemic疫情,
230
665880
2216
也許現在由於疫情的影響,
11:20
more people are paying付款
attention注意 to Kensington肯辛頓.
231
668120
2216
更多的人關注肯辛頓。
11:22
But regardless而不管 of that,
232
670360
2056
但不管如何,
11:24
at McPherson麥克弗森,
233
672440
1216
在麥克弗森,
11:25
we will continue繼續 to do what we can
with the resources資源 we have
234
673680
3776
我們將繼續盡我們所能
利用現有的資源,
11:29
and we will continue繼續 to provide提供
whatever隨你 help we can
235
677480
2616
我們將繼續提供任何協助,
11:32
in hopes希望 of keeping保持 our community社區
safe安全 and healthy健康
236
680120
2400
以期保持我們的社區安全和健康,
11:35
because public上市 libraries圖書館
have always been more than just books圖書.
237
683520
3600
因為一直以來
公共圖書館不僅僅是書籍;
11:40
We are physical物理 shelter庇護,
238
688360
2056
我們是實體的庇護所、
11:42
a classroom課堂,
239
690440
1200
教室、
11:44
a safe安全 haven避風港,
240
692760
1376
安全的避風港、
11:46
a lunch午餐 room房間,
241
694160
1696
午餐室、
11:47
a resource資源 hub樞紐
242
695880
1976
資源中心,
11:49
and yes,
243
697880
1216
是的,
11:51
even a lifeline生命線.
244
699120
1336
甚至還是生命線。
11:52
Thank you.
245
700480
1216
謝謝。
11:53
(Applause掌聲)
246
701720
3520
(掌聲)
Translated by Helen Chang
Reviewed by Yanyan Hong

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Chera Kowalski - Librarian
Chera Kowalski is championing the transformation of her library into a safe, responsive space for the community it serves.

Why you should listen

Chera Kowalski is revolutionizing the way public resources are meeting the needs of the communities they serve. As the Adult Teen Librarian at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s McPherson Square Branch, this often means saving lives. 

After witnessing drug overdoses firsthand at her library and the nearby park, Kowalski volunteered to receive training in overdose defense through Prevention Point Philadelphia and now advocates for training for other librarians and community members to learn how to administer naloxone -- a life-saving drug that reverses the effects of opioids -- to people in distress. Motivated by her personal experiences as the daughter of parents who have maintained recovery from opioid use, Kowalski is transforming her library into a safe, responsive space for her community that is able to help people with whatever they need in a supportive, judgment-free way. Kowalski is a graduate of Temple University's College of Liberal Arts and the University of Illinois School of Information Sciences.

More profile about the speaker
Chera Kowalski | Speaker | TED.com

Data provided by TED.

This site was created in May 2015 and the last update was on January 12, 2020. It will no longer be updated.

We are currently creating a new site called "eng.lish.video" and would be grateful if you could access it.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to write comments in your language on the contact form.

Privacy Policy

Developer's Blog

Buy Me A Coffee