First Wilmington police officer saves life using Naloxone

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) – The first Wilmington Police officer used Naloxone to save the life of a 34-year-old woman.

A spokeswoman from the Wilmington Police Department said on Friday evening around 6:00, an officer was dispatched to the 3000 block of Market Street to check the welfare of an individual. When the officer arrived, the woman had collapsed on the side of the street near a fire hydrant. The officer noticed signs of drug use and quickly administered Naloxone.

The victim was revived and received treatment at the scene from EMS.

The spokeswoman said this is the first time a Wilmington Police Officer has administered the drug. Patrol officers have been furnished with the auto-injectors and trained on how to administer the drug to individuals suffering from the symptoms of heroin overdose.

Naloxone blocks and reverses the effects of opioid medication which includes heroin. The agency received a donation of 270 auto-injectors from Kaleo Pharmaceuticals in December of 2015.