Just last night, West Precinct Bike Officers James Kellett and Matthew Bradrick made the department’s 10th naloxone save in just 4 1/2 months since SPD began issuing nasal naloxone to police officers, thanks to a partnership with the Marah Project, the Seattle Fire Department and the University of Washington.
Officers Kellet and Bradrick responded to a 911 report of a woman possibly overdosed in the 900 block of Pine Street. They arrived and quickly found the 21 year old woman lying on her back, unresponsive. According to witnesses, the young woman had been unconscious for about 5 minutes. The victim had extremely pale skin, a faint heart rate and did not appear to be breathing.
Based on her symptoms and the hypodermic needles next to her, Officers Kellett and Bradrick believed the victim was suffering the effects of a heroin overdose, and promptly administered naloxone. Seattle Fire Department personnel were also on scene, supporting first aid efforts.
Approximately four minutes after receiving naloxone, the victim was talking in complete sentences and able to provide Seattle Fire Department staff with her name and date of birth.
Seattle Fire Department medics transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center for additional medical care.
This incident will become part of the ongoing study conducted by the University of Washington into SPD’s use of naloxone, for a possible department-wide expansion of the program.
The 10th naloxone save comes on the eve of an official visit to Seattle by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy as part of his national campaign to address America’s prescription drug and opioid crisis. Surgeon General Murthy is traveling across the country to hear from communities that are combating the opioid epidemic – an epidemic that now kills more Americans than car accidents. While in Seattle, Dr. Murthy will meet with the SPD to learn more about its naloxone program and hear directly from local law enforcement, community members and families.
As a reminder, Washington law provides immunity from criminal drug possession charges for anyone seeking medical aid for themselves or someone else experiencing an overdose.