Cole County Sheriff's Department uses life-saving Narcan for first time

A Cole County sheriff's deputy is shown with his radio microphone and body cam pinned to his chest.
A Cole County sheriff's deputy is shown with his radio microphone and body cam pinned to his chest.

The Cole County Sheriff's Department's newly acquired Narcan has been credited with saving the life of a person who overdosed on opioids.

Deputies were dispatched at 10:12 p.m. Tuesday to the 5400 block of Business 50 for the possible overdose of a woman who was reported to not be breathing and turning blue, according to Sheriff's Department reports.

Deputies arrived and found an unresponsive woman who was not breathing and exhibiting the signs of an opioid overdose.

A deputy administered one dose of Narcan prior to EMS arrival. The woman began breathing on her own and eventually became awake and alert. She was transported by EMS to a local hospital for evaluation.

Late last year, Sheriff John Wheeler announced he was implementing a program for deputies to carry Narcan in their vehicles. The nasal spray counteracts the effects of an opioid overdose.

The Cole County Sheriff's Department partnered with the Missouri Overdose Rescue Education Project, in conjunction with the Division of Health and Senior Services, to provide Narcan to the deputies. Wheeler said this was a monthlong process that included training, as well as writing and implementing policy.

"We just started carrying the canisters last week," Wheeler said. "They are temperature-sensitive; they can't get extremely hot or cold, so we're wearing them on ankle holsters. All road deputies, detectives and civil deputies are carrying them, so anybody driving our roads has them. That's 46 total.

"It's worth it if we can save a life like what happened Tuesday night."