Washington Deputy Saves Man from Opioid Overdose using Narcan
Deputy Alex Velikodnyy, of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, saved a man’s life this weekend using Narcan just one day after being trained on how to use it.
A grant from the Medical Reserve Corps of Eastern Washington provided for several hundred Narcan kits to be used by deputies and medical professionals when responding to medical emergencies. Naloxone (brand name Narcan) is used to block or reverse the effects of opioids. The Sheriff’s Office received 150 of these kits along with training on its use through a grant-funded pilot program between the Medical Reserve Corps of Eastern Washington and local law enforcement.
On Saturday—the day after the training—around 12:45 pm, Deputy Velikodnyy responded to a call in Medical Lake, Washington, where he found an unconscious man and a helpful bystander providing CPR. Velikodnyy recognized the symptoms of a possible opioid overdose and used the Narcan drug, which ended up saving the man’s life.
The Medical Reserve Corps of Eastern Washington is made up of physicians, registered nurses, veterinarians, mental health professionals and other volunteers. They assist in responding to local and regional emergencies or disasters; providing Narcan and training on its use aligns well with the overall mission.
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Read the full story at khq.com.