A quick-thinking passerby may have helped save a man’s life in New West last week.
The New Westminster Police Department received a call just after 4 a.m. on July 26, alerting them to a possible overdose at Westminster Pier Park. The caller saw an adult man in the park he believed may be overdosing and ran to the police station for help.
Photo Tomas Nevesely via Shutterstock
Police gave the unconscious man naloxone – a drug used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose – using a nasal spray, but he did not respond. As they were about to give a second dose, he began to wake up. Paramedics arrived and took him to the hospital.
“The quick thinking and immediate action by the passerby to come get help saved this man’s life,” Sgt. Jeff Scott said in a press release. “Thankfully, officers arrived in time to give the much needed dose of naloxone.”
Scott would like to remind the public to contact police immediately if you suspect someone is overdosing.
The New Westminster Police Department has been using naloxone to assist in opioid overdoses since February 2017.
