COON RAPIDS, Minn. - Coon Rapids firefighters say a 24-year old man is alive thanks to a heroin overdose antidote they began using three months ago. It's the first "save" since they began using Narcan.
Fire department officials say a man called 911 the night of November 28 reporting that a friend of his had possibly overdosed on heroin. When first responders arrived they found the 24-year-old unresponsive but still showing a pulse. Coon Rapids firefighters, who respond to all medical calls in the city, administered Narcan to the victim. After a few minutes of continuing to assist the patient with breathing, the patient became responsive and began to breathe again on his own.
He was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
"We are pleased to be able to save lives with the drug antidote, Narcan," said Coon Rapids Fire Chief John Piper. "Now that our emergency responders can carry this drug on our vehicles it gives patients even more chances for survival as every minute counts in a medical emergency."
The Coon Rapids Fire Department became one of the first fire departments in the state to carry Naloxone on each rescue vehicle in September 2014. The decision to carry the antidote drug on all fire rescue vehicles was due to new legislation that went into effect on July 1, 2014 known as 'Steve's Law'. It was named in honor of Steve Rummler, who died of a heroin overdose in 2011.
Prior to Steve's law, Narcan could only be administered by advanced pre-hospital providers (ambulance personnel), not emergency responders.
