On 3/18/24, Mt. Carmel Fire Department, Wabash General Ambulance Service, and the Mt. Carmel Police Department responded to an unresponsive individual at a fuel pump at a gas station in the 200 block of N Walnut Street. Officers arrived on scene and found another individual performing CPR. Officers took over CPR while utilizing an AED. Responders and EMS arrived on scene and took over treatment. Due to suspicion of a possible overdose, EMS and MCPD staff administered Narcan to the individual and were able to revive them. Narcan, otherwise known as naloxone, is a medicine that is an antidote to opioid drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications. The subject was transported to the Wabash General Hospital and then air transported to an Evansville area hospital by AirEvac.

MCPD would like to commend the teamwork of these departments along with the assistance of a private citizen who called 911 for help.

Here are some warning signs of an opioid overdose:

• Loss of consciousness, limp body

• Slowed breathing, choking

• Small, "pinpoint" pupils

• Pale, blue, or cold skin

• Slowed heart rate

Of particular concern is fentanyl which is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin or morphine.

Everyone must remember that any drug could contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. That includes illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin, or, methamphetamine as well as prescription medications like Xanax, Oxycodone, etc.…Furthermore,

It may be hard to tell whether a person is high or experiencing an overdose. If you aren’t sure, treat it like an overdose—you could save a life. The Center for Disease Control recommends the following:

1. Call 911 immediately

2. Administer Narcan, if available

3. Try to keep the person awake and breathing

4. Lay the person on their side to prevent choking

5. Stay with the person until emergency assistance arrives