In the past month there have been three heroin overdoses in Eden Prairie resulting in two deaths. In the case of the survivor, first responders administered naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of a heroin, and saved the person’s life. All three people were young adults in their 20s.
This fall, all EPPD police officers and firefighters were trained to administer naloxone and officers now carry naloxone in their squad cars. In Eden Prairie, typically police officers or paramedics from Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) are the first ones on the scene of a medical emergency, including an overdose. HCMC paramedics carry naloxone as do Eden Prairie firefighters who also respond to emergency calls.
It is the department’s hope that by carrying and administering naloxone, heroin users will survive and get the help they need to beat their addiction. Naloxone works by counteracting the life-threatening depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system, allowing an overdose victim to breathe normally.
If you suspect someone may be in the midst of an overdose, call 911. Here are symptoms of an overdose to look for according to harmreduction.org:
This post was originally published on November 12, 2015 on the Eden Prairie Police Department’s blog.
