Deputy saves life of man overdosing on heroin.

February 12, 2018

Dep. Jeff Brown

Deputy saves life of man overdosing on heroin.

#OceanaCounty

PENTWATER TOWNSHIP — By using Narcan, Oceana County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Brown saved the life of a 26-year-old Ludington man who overdosed on heroin at the Dollar General store on West Monroe Road Monday afternoon, Feb. 12.

“On Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 at 12:01 p.m. the sheriff’s office responded to a call for an overdose at the Dollar General, located on West Monroe Road in Pentwater Township,” states a press release from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office. “Pentwater Police, Pentwater Rescue and Oceana County EMS also responded.

“Deputy Jeff Brown was on Monroe Road, near 88th Avenue when the call came into Mason-Oceana 911. Deputy Brown was on scene in less than three minutes after the call was dispatched. Dispatchers were told by witnesses at the scene that the person had overdosed on heroin and was unconscious and not breathing. Dispatchers immediately began giving CPR instructions over the phone.

“Deputy Brown arrived on scene and confirmed with the witness that the unconscious person had in fact overdosed on heroin. Deputy Brown then administered two doses of Naloxone (Narcan), a drug that was issued to law enforcement officers to assist with calls just like these.

“’I have never seen Naloxone work in a real-world situation, it was amazing,’ Brown said. “The individual was unconscious, not breathing, CPR was in progress, I administered the Naloxone in both nostrils, and he almost immediately regained consciousness.’”

“This coordinated team effort began with the phone call to 911; dispatchers quickly ascertaining the nature of the call; and getting first responders dispatched. We are very fortunate in our community that all of our agencies work very well with one another. This team effort today was able to save the life of a 26-year-old man and give him a second chance.

“The individual involved was a Ludington resident who is currently on probation. He was transported by Oceana County EMS to Mercy Health Partners – Lakeshore Campus in Shelby for treatment and evaluation and was subsequently transported to the Mason County Jail to be lodged on a probation violation.

“We recognize that the opioid epidemic affects us in Oceana County, and are hopeful that these individuals will make better choices in the future.”