GPD-administered Narcan dose saves unresponsive woman's life

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Quick response by an off-duty Greencastle City Police officer and the administering of a spray that counteracts life-threatening effects of opioid overdose apparently saved a woman's life Saturday evening.

Just before 6:30 p.m., Greencastle City Police Sgt. Ed Wilson, off-duty at the time, first responded to the report of an unconscious woman in a car at the far end of the Super Wash property along Indianapolis Road in Greencastle.

Sgt. Wilson and Officer Elsiana Crosby, who had arrived on the scene simultaneously, quickly assessed the scene and concluded the woman had possibly overdosed on an unknown narcotic and was unresponsive at the time of their arrival.

Acting quickly, Sgt. Wilson administered his department-issued Naloxone, more commonly known as Narcan. However, the first dose of the nasal spray was not fully effective, prompting Officer Crosby to administer a second dose of Naloxone.

Within minutes the individual was responsive and transported to Putnam County Hospital by Operation Life personnel.

Officer Matt Huffman and Sgt. Eric Vaughan assisted at the scene.

All Greencastle Police Department officers are certified and currently carrying Naloxone in their vehicles so they can respond to any incidents on or off-duty.

A grant from the Indiana Attorney General's Office supplied local officers with Narcan, a valuable tool to fight the effects of drug overdose. Armed with intranasal doses of Naloxone, officers can more readily respond to heroin and other narcotic overdoses.

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I have mixed emotions concerning Narcan. I know a family and their daughter overdosed on heroin and the Police upon their arrival administered Narcan and "brought her back" after 2 rounds of Narcan and CPR. The problem was her brain had been without oxygen far too long and she was brain dead. She had to be put on life support and then the family was forced to make the decision to remove the machines. She had no insurance and the bills took most of her parents savings. I fully agree with using the Narcan if they are awake and somewhat responsive however if there is need of Narcan and CPR maybe not.

-- Posted by Trying hard on Tue, Apr 25, 2017, at 4:52 PM
Trying Hard,

I guess it would have been easier on the family for the responders to just stand there and let her die. At least they were given the opportunity to say their goodbyes. The problem is not the officers or the Narcan. The problem is the worthless POS that sold or gave it to her. I hope you were a close enough friend to be able to tell the

Police where she may have got that crap.

-- Posted by Vernie1 on Tue, Apr 25, 2017, at 5:10 PM
Vernie1--we all have free will to do what we want when we want. But, when does personal accountability come into play? No one made her take it. If a person is hit by a car should the car be made illegal?

To Trying hard--being compassionate is not one of your better qualities, is it??? Maybe you believe to be better than the next person?

-- Posted by donantonioelsabio on Wed, Apr 26, 2017, at 7:16 AM

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