Morristown cop puts Narcan training into quick use

MORRISTOWN – A police officer left a training seminar on how to use Narcan to revive a person after a drug overdose and responded to an emergency medical call where he immediately put the training into practice, police said.

The officer with help from a Morris Twp. Police Department officer was able to save the life of an unresponsive 53-year-old man Thursday morning, according to Morristown Lt. Stuart Greer.

The life saving effort came at the conclusion of an in-service training session for uniformed patrol officers Thursday morning that focused on how to administer Narcan to potential overdose victims. The state last year authorized police to carry Narcan, which is an opioid antagonist used to counter the effects of opioids in cases of overdose.

As training wrapped up at about 10 a.m., Officer James Green was dispatched to a call for a reported cardiac arrest from a potential overdose on Speedwell Avenue.

Green left police headquarters to respond and render aid to the victim, Greer said.

At the same time, Morris Township Officer Robert Hydock was told he was the closest unit to the scene so he also responded. Green and Hydock determined the 53-year-old man was in respiratory arrest from an apparent heroin overdose, Greer said.

As Atlantic Health emergency medical services arrived, Hydock assembled a Narcan kit and gave it to Green, who administered it to the 53-year-old man, Greer said.

The 53-year-old regained breathing thanks to the successful Narcan revival and assistance from EMS. The 53-year-old, whose name was not released by police, was fully conscious by the time he was placed into the ambulance for transport, Greer said.

Narcan was also used last week by a Morris Township officer during an overdose.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com