SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SAVES LIFE WITH NALOXENE, THANKS TO NEW PROGRAM

By Miriam Raftery

July 23, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Just two weeks ago, Sheriff’s deputies at the Santee station became among the first law enforcement officers in the program to carry Naloxene, a drug that reverses the effects of heroin, under a new pilot program.

This morning, Sheriff’s Traffic Sergeant Scott Hill administered Naloxene to revive a 37-year-old man who was found by his mother unconscious, with no pulse.  The man’s mother called 911 as his stepfather began CPR at the victim’s home on Bradley Avenue in El Cajon.  Sergeant Hill was first on the scene and administered Naloxene to the unconscious man, a heroin user.  The man began breathing and was transported to a local hospital by paramedics.

All deputies in the Santee command have been trained to use this important medication under the pilot program, in conjunction with San Diego County Health and Human Services, Scripps Hospital, and UCSD Hospital.  Sergeant Hill was one of the instructors in the use of Naloxene.

This is the first known use of Naloxene by a deputy sheriff in San Diego County. 

In a press release issued by the Sheriff, Sergeant Pat Gardner states, “Sergeant Hill’s quick response and actions directly saved this individual’s life.”

If the local pilot program is successful after its six month trial, Naloxene, the generic version of the  nasal spray medication Narcan, may soon become available to law enforcement agencies statewide.