Antidote administered by police credited for saving heroin overdose victim’s life.

Sgt. Steve Wietryzowski

LUDINGTON — Ludington Police Department is crediting the administration of an antidote by a police officer for helping to save the life of a 22-year-old Ludington man this afternoon, March 15, 2016. At 1:41 p.m., LPD, along with Ludington Fire Department and Life EMS, were dispatched to the 300 block of East Melendy Street for a report of a man having trouble breathing. Upon arrive, Sgt. Steve Wietrzykowski and Officer. J.B. Wells observed that the victim also exhibited other signs consistent with an opiate overdose, according to a press release from Ludington Police Department.  Officers administered Naloxone while attaching an automated external heart defibrillator (AED).  Officers then administered CPR until EMS arrived, according to LPD Chief Mark Barnett.  The victim was treated by EMS and transported to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital.

The officers’ follow-up on the victim at the hospital found him to be sitting upright and conscious.  The investigation found that the victim had overdosed on heroin, Barnett said.

Officer J.B. Wells

“Medical staff told the officers that the administration of the Naloxone was key in saving the victim’s life,” Barnett said.

Ludington police officers, along with other Mason County law enforcement officers  were trained in the use of Naloxone January 19 and 21, 2016.  The Naloxone and the training were paid for with a grant obtained by Josh Snyder of Western Michigan Community Mental Health.

“The goal of the grant was to get this tool in the hands of law enforcement officers in a four county area to combat the recent spike in opiate overdoses.  This trend is nationwide,” Barnett said. “This incident marks the first time that the Ludington Police Department had administered the Naloxone (Narcan) in a real life scenario.”