Police officer saves man with fast-acting medication

A Wolverhampton police officer is believed to be the first in the city to administer a fast-acting drug to someone after an overdose.

PC Kirstie Brooks administered naloxone to a man found unconscious in the city centre. The drug woke him up and he was treated by paramedics, West Midlands Police said.

Naloxone is a drug that quickly reverses an opioid overdose, and dozens of police officers in Wolverhampton have been trained to administer the drug.

“I am convinced that the outcome for this man could have been very different if I had not used this spray,” she said.

As part of the ongoing program, funded by the Police and Crime Commission, city officers receive training from the local treatment center, Recovery for You.

Recalling the incident, PC Brooks said she found the man lying on his back and breathing shallowly.

After placing him in the recovery position, she sprayed naloxone into his nose.

“He didn't seem to be responding and I was starting to wonder if it would work when suddenly he noticed a flicker in his eyes and started to sit up,” she said.

“I had done it right and even though he was still a little wobbly, it was a huge relief.

“Because I had recently completed the training, I knew what signs to look for in an opioid overdose and was able to administer the spray with confidence.”

After training, officers wear the spray on their belts.

“The circumstances of this case highlight the importance of naloxone and the positive impact it can have on the streets,” said Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster.

He added that naloxone training had been expanded to 280 officers in the region.

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