An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Tilt their head back, lift chin, pinch nose shut. Ultimately, they did call 911 and the overdose victim was revived. © 2020 Advance Local Media LLC. Not long ago, I heard a “Radiolab” podcast, the May 24 edition about Good Samaritans in Bath County, Kentucky. Whether or not one of these drugs caused the Kentucky EMT’s symptoms, there have been other reported cases of first responders being overcome while treating overdose victims. Any “work-arounds” would defeat the spirit of this law. No one should die because someone else is afraid to call 911 for fear of getting busted. Naloxone has no potential for abuse. That alone should motivate us to act. What the caller to 911 did not know while hesitating about summoning help was that Kentucky is among states that have adopted a “Good Samaritan” law for such cases. Try to wake the person up by yelling their name and rubbing the middle of their chest with your knuckles (sternum rub). © 2020 Commonwealth of Kentucky. The details involved two men and a woman partying in a house together when one of the guys apparently overdosed on opioids. It goes even further when you get into drug use. If naloxone is administered to a person who is experiencing an opioid overdose, it will produce withdrawal symptoms. Naloxone should be stored at room temperature and away from light. This means that people, including doctors and first responders, can provide help at an accident scene or emergency situation without fear of being sued by victims or their families. • Kentucky’s Good Samaritan Law(KRS 218A.133) protects individuals from prosecution if they seek medical attention while experiencing a drug overdose in certain circumstances. “There is a general reluctance within the drug-using population to seek help when witnessing an overdose. This matters, because the addicted often use drugs in the presence of other drug users. There is no longer any need to watch a friend or family member die due to a fear of criminal prosecution. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/20). Main Fax: (502) 564-2894Send an Email. Albert B. Kelly is mayor of Bridgeton. Give 1 slow breath every 5 seconds. New Jersey also specifically deals with drug overdoses through the Overdose Prevention Act. If vomiting occurs, manually clear their mouth and nose. Kentucky takes action to reverse opiate overdoses. The Matthew Casey Wethington Act for Substance Abuse Intervention is named for Matthew Casey Wethington, who died in 2002 from a heroin overdose at the age of 23. Drug overdoses continue to climb at an alarming rate and remain a major cause of preventable deaths. This is commonly known as a “Good Samaritan Law,” and it provides an important tool to save lives. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Apparently, one of the responding EMTs became ill and passed out while transporting the overdose victim to the hospital. When administered during an overdose, naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and restores breathing. The shelf life of naloxone is approximately two years. Blow enough air into their lungs to make their chest rise. They can get help for the victim without facing any punishment for possession of … After Casey’s death his parents lobbied for a change. One such part is often referred to as the “Good Samaritan” law. It can be given as an injection into a muscle or as a nasal spray. Upon discovering the victim, the man’s two companions hesitated to call paramedics because they were afraid they would be arrested and charged with drug-related offenses. Good Samaritan Laws encourage bystanders to become “Good Samaritans” by summoning emergency responders without fear of arrest or other negative legal consequences. With New Jerseyans now able to report overdoses of illicit drugs without running afoul of the law, it's sensible to have police carry an antidote with them. Although his parents tried to get him help, there was no law that could force someone into treatment because he was an adult. While people can have varying opinions about the three people initially involved in this incident, the charges against them seem like law enforcement’s “work-around” to permit prosecution despite the Good Samaritan law. All rights reserved (About Us). Yet, regardless of what any one of us thinks, we’re still talking about someone’s daughter, son, mother, father, sister or brother. Theoretically, this fentanyl — which is at least 50 times more powerful than morphine — got onto the EMT and was absorbed through his skin. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. We all know that drug overdose is a life threatening emergency, and requires a swift medical response. This 2013 law encourages people to call 911 if they think a person is overdosing on illegal or prescription drugs. Kentucky Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Forces, Naloxone is an inert medication, non-addictive, Naloxone can be administered repeatedly without harm, Naloxone can be administered intramuscularly, intranasally via atomizer devise or via an auto-injector. 200. Continue to monitor their breathing and perform rescue breathing if respirations are below 10 breaths a minute. More than 52,000Americans died of a drug overdose in 2015, the majority caused by opioids. Naloxone (Narcan®) is a prescription medication that can reverse an overdose that is caused by an opioid drug. If one is seeking medical care for overdose, they are then excempt from prosecution for possessing controlled substances and/or paraphernalia.
Maybe Kentucky police and prosecutors don’t agree with the restriction on drug arrests, but the law is intended to encourage people to call for help rather than just letting someone die. If it is given to a person who is not experiencing an opioid overdose, it is harmless. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Without this law, a person who is in the But it didn’t end there. Justice and Public Safety Cabinet125 Holmes StreetFrankfort, KY 40601Main Line: (502)564 9564
All Rights Reserved. Here’s what caught my attention — and likely that of the podcast producers — about the Kentucky case. These laws basically state that if anyone calls 911 on behalf of another person they believe to be overdosing, the emergency caller (often a drug user as well) cannot be charged with using of illegal or prescription drugs or drug paraphernalia. “Good Samaritan” Immunity Provision Some parts of the new bill are specifically designed to try to save the lives of addicts and overdose victims, even at the expense of what could be a criminal prosecution under existing law. As for what made the EMT sick, speculation was that the overdose victim had trace amounts of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl on his body. So, here’s to the Good Samaritans and the laws that protect them. Basically, one is immune to civil liability under KY law. Use naloxone and continue rescue breathing at one breath every 5 seconds. Data suggests that Emergency Medical Services are called in the event of an overdose less than 56% of the time.
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