Three more lives saved thanks to nasal spray

Three more lives have been saved in recent weeks thanks to officers carrying a nasal spray to treat those suffering from suspected drug overdoses.

In April this year, naloxone spray was rolled out to frontline officers across the county following a six-month trial in Dacorum, Stevenage, Watford and Welwyn Hatfield.

To date, six lives have been saved using the fast and effective treatment.

Just this month (July), officers administered naloxone to a man outside shops in Saturn Way, Highfield, Hemel Hempstead. He was showing signs of a possible drug overdose so in agreement with paramedics the nasal spray was used. The man was taken to hospital by ambulance for further treatment.

Last month (June), the easy to administer spray was used on two separate occasions.

The first was in Russells Ride, Cheshunt, where officers discovered a woman with a history of drug use slipping in and out of consciousness. The medication was administered and when paramedics arrived she was taken to hospital.

The second incident involved a man who had taken a deliberate overdose of prescription opiate medication. While talking to officers in Croxley Green, as they waited for an ambulance he became unresponsive. Naloxone was administered and he was subsequently taken to hospital for further treatment.

Frontline officers are specially trained in how to administer the nasal spray which temporarily reverses the effects of opiate drugs. Further hospital medical treatment is then required. If administered to someone who has not suffered a drug overdose it does not do any harm.

Dacorum Chief Inspector Jason Keane, who is overseeing the project, said: “In just a few weeks officers on our frontline have been key in saving the lives of three members of the public.

“Naloxone is easy to administer and buys vital time before paramedics arrive and as demonstrated can be the difference between life and death.

“To date more than 250 officers from the constabulary have been trained in administering naloxone and this is another addition to our trauma kits to enable us to best serve the public.”

Specialist training is delivered to officers by the charity Change Grow Live (CGL) in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council.