Township police use Narcan hours after receiving it
By Tracy Ouellette
Editor
Within hours of implementing its new Nasal Naloxone Program, the Town of East Troy Police Department used the drug to save the life of a 26-year-old man in the Village of East Troy, township Police Chief Don Jensen said Monday.
“We got our Narcan on Thursday and we had our first save at about 3 a.m. on Friday,” Jensen said.
In a press release, Jensen stated the members of the Town of East Troy Police Department received training in the Nasal Naloxone Program on June 7.
The department received its Narcan on June 22 and the program was fully implemented at 2 p.m. when it was placed in the Town Hall administrative office and the town squad car.
Around 3 a.m. on the morning of June 23, township police officer Jon Jagielski was on patrol and heard a Village of East Troy officer dispatched to the area of Church Street and School Street for a possible person slumped over the wheel of their car, Jensen stated in the press release.
“The officers of both jurisdictions work with each other and knowing that a call like this may require additional resources Officer Jagielski took the initiative and drove to that area in case assistance was needed,” Jensen stated.
When Jagielski arrived at the scene, he saw Village of East Troy police officer Ruben Ojeda running to an automobile that was stopped on the sidewalk area. According to the release, Ojeda was calling for emergency medical services for the unresponsive man lying across the front seat of the vehicle.
According to the release, Jagielski ran to assist Ojeda and saw the man in vehicle the was “making snoring and gurgling noises, his eyes were rolled back, his body was limp, the skin was greyish in color, along with dark purple fingertips and a weak pulse.”
Jensen said Monday, Jagielski recognized the symptoms of a possible opioid overdose because of his recent training and got the Narcan out of his squad and administered to the man.
Jensen said the Narcan worked almost instantly and the man began to wake up and his pulse became stronger. The man was then transported to the hospital for further treatment.
“The guy is alive and well, from what I hear,” Jensen said Monday afternoon. “We never though we’d be using the Narcan so quickly, but we’re so glad we had it.”
Jensen encouraged residents to report any suspected opioid overdoses, “If someone you know is having an opioid overdose don’t run – save a life and call 911. We are here to help.”
For more information about the program or the township Police Department, call Jensen at (262) 642-3700.
