KEARNY –
On March 10, the Kearny Police Department posted the following notice on its Facebook page: “Thanks to Jersey City Medical Center EMS /JCMC for replenishing our supplies of nasal Narcan. Under an agreement with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, JCMC provides nasal Narcan to our department at no cost.
“Narcan is an opiate blocker that can be sprayed up an overdose victim’s nose. The medication blocks the effects of opiate-based drugs, such as heroin and oxycodone, on the body and can reverse an overdose if given in time.
“Narcan kits have been deployed in select police cars to be available for emergency response to opiate overdoses.”
The operative phrase in that notice is that Narcan works “if given in time.”
Last week, by administering Narcan, the KPD saved three lives over the course of four days. Police found one apparent overdose victim in a crashed car; the other two were able to be revived in their homes – because people cared enough to call the cops immediately.
The driver involved in the accident was arrested on a charge of DUI. The other two individuals faced no charges. Which is something authorities want the public to remember.
The three incidents were as follows:
March 24 – Sgt. Joseph Vulcano and Officer Jose Resua were called to a Grove St. home at 5 p.m., and arrived to find a 58-year-old Kearny woman unconscious, apparently from a drug overdose. Officer Richard Poplaski, a certified EMT, assessed the situation and administered Narcan, and the victim regained consciousness “in approximately two minutes,” police said. She was taken to Clara Maass Medical Center by the Harrison EMS.
March 25 – At 11:30 a.m., Officers Poplaski, Sean Kelly and Luis Moran responded to a one-vehicle accident on Bergen Ave. between Schuyler and Harrison Aves. and found a 2014 Ford on the sidewalk, against the guardrail.
Police said Giovanni Bohorquez, 33, of Little Ferry, was unconscious in the driver’s seat. EMT Poplaski assessed the man’s condition, administered Narcan, and the driver came to. Bohorquez was taken to Clara Maass for treatment and tests and was later released to “a responsible individual.” But he was charged with DUI, reckless driving and operating an uninsured car.
March 27 – Capt. David Feldhan, Sgt. Jack Corbett and Officer Jonathan Dowie responded to a Bergen Ave. residence on an 11 p.m. call regarding a probable overdose. This time, it was Officer Dowie, also a certified EMT, who assessed matters and administered Narcan, reviving the victim – a 27-year-old Kearny woman – within minutes. She was taken to Clara Maass by North Arlington volunteer ambulance.
As noted before, neither of the OD victims revived at home, was arrested.
“What I want the public to know,” stated KPD Chief John Dowie, “is that time is of the essence in these situations. We don’t want fear of prosecution and/or embarrassment to delay someone from calling on behalf of a loved one and run the risk of possible death or irreversible brain damage.”
The police, he continued, “are there in a life-saving mode, not an enforcement mode. Our priority is to save a life. If we need to make referrals and get you some counselling, we’ll do that, too. We’ll deal with it in the most confidential way we can.”
The chief also urged that families and friends become more aware of the signs of drug use – which can include things as simple as weight loss or items missing from one’s home.
“If you see the signs, let us know – without fear of prosecution. We can make referrals.”
