SPOKANE, Wash. – Earlier this month, a Riverfront Park caretaker in Spokane took swift action to help a man experiencing an overdose. Striker Jackson, who was driving across a bridge in his Kubota, noticed an unconscious man on the ground next to a bench.
Jackson saw another man nearby who appeared to be in shock. After attempting to communicate and getting little response, Jackson immediately called 911. While on the phone with dispatch, he radioed two maintenance workers for assistance.
One worker went to retrieve Narcan from storage while the other assisted Jackson in trying to wake the unconscious man. They observed that the man’s breathing was slow and his pupils were not responding normally.
Within five minutes, emergency services arrived and administered Narcan, successfully saving the man. Jackson remembered the moment vividly, stating, “That was probably the most shocking experience {in over 8 years of working at the park}, I would have to say… It was pretty scary.”
Jackson had been trained on using Narcan, a medicine known to reverse opioid overdoses. Although he didn’t have it on him, he expressed willingness to use it if needed.
A local nurse has since praised Jackson for his actions, considering him a hero. She is also spreading awareness on how to use Narcan in similar situations. Washington state law permits anyone to carry and administer Narcan to someone suspected of an overdose.
Narcan is provided by Multicare to those with drug-related issues upon leaving their emergency rooms (with an informational pamphlet). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Narcan can rapidly reverse an overdose, helping the person wake up, become alert, or even restart breathing.
Stacy Kitchens, a nurse at MultiCare, explained that signs of an opioid overdose include unresponsiveness, decreased consciousness, cold skin, and slow pulse or breathing. She advised ensuring personal safety, trying to wake the person, and using Narcan if there is no response.
“Not every substance is created equal,” Kitchens said, emphasizing the unpredictability and inconsistency of street-made opioids.
Kitchens warned that although it is unlikely, the overdosing individual could wake up angry, reinforcing the need for safety when administering aid.
For those looking to obtain Narcan, it is available at most pharmacies in Washington.
