GPD-administered Narcan dose saves unresponsive woman's life
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.