Four Hall County sheriff's deputies and a Gainesville police officer saved the lives of five overdose victims in separate incidents in the past two months by administering naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of opioids.
Deputies James Giles, Bryan Woods and Jeffrey Forrester saved overdose victims in January. Deputy Marcus Brown saved a victim in December. Gainesville police officer Bobby Brumbelow saved the life of a prescription overdose victim in December.
All received training in the application of naloxone through the Medical Association of Georgia Foundation’s Project DAN (Deaths Avoided by Naloxone).
“These are three more examples of how Project DAN training is saving lives,” Medical Association of Georgia Foundation President Jack M. Chapman Jr., M.D. said. “First responders are recognizing the signs of drug overdose and following their training. They are doing a great job.”
These saves were the ninth by the Gainesville Police Department and the sixth for the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. There have been 25 overall saves throughout north Georgia since the program started.
The Medical Association of Georgia Foundation sponsors the training sessions for law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the state. Health officials say the timely administration of naloxone typically reverses the effects of opiates such as heroin and opioids like hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone and others.
More information about MAGF’s campaign can be found at www.rxdrugabuse.org.
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