WENATCHEE, Wash. – Three security officers who work at Confluence Health are being praised for helping save the life of a man who was experiencing a drug overdose.
The incident happened recently, just after midnight. Security Officer Giovanni Mendoza, who was monitoring Confluence Health’s video surveillance system, noticed that a man was lying on the ground in a dark area near one of the facilities with a group of people, reports NCWLife. As the group of people left the scene, the officer noticed the man did not move and appeared to be in distress, reports YourSourceOne.
He became concerned and contacted his supervisor, who quickly mobilized the security team.
When Night Shift Supervisor Jesse Garcia Jr. and Security Officer Israel Huerta arrived at the scene, they found the man was cold and rigid. His breathing was also laborious.
They immediately called for an ambulance and administered a dose of Naloxone to the victim.
When EMS arrived, they cleared his airway, administered a second dose of Naloxone, and rushed him to the emergency department.
A few days later, the man was well enough to be discharged from the hospital.
Hospital Security Officers Praised for Their Actions
“We often deal with individuals who suffer from addiction, mental health issues, or other kinds of crises,” Garcia told YourSourceOne. “The night of the incident, we took action and as a result saved a man’s life. Words can’t describe how incredibly proud I am of my team that night. We take pride in our roles and do our best to represent our department to the highest of standards.”
Confluence Health Security and Emergency Preparedness Director John Urdahl also praised his team members for their quick response to the situation.
“Not only did they provide the right, appropriate action to the situation, but they gave him the same compassion and care that they would have to a member of their own family,” he told NCWLife. “I am so proud of the team for the support given to this person in crisis and also thankful for their teamwork with the first responders to get the care needed to save a life.”
For years now, hospital security and law enforcement officers have been carrying with them Naloxone to revive individuals who are experiencing an overdose from opioids. The antidote can be administered by injection or nasal spray and can restore a person’s ability to breathe.
The antidote is so effective that six years ago, the U.S. surgeon general at the time, Dr. Jerome Adams, called on Americans who are at-risk or know someone who is at-risk for an opioid overdose to carry Narcan with them so they can save lives.
