Kokomo – Today, the quick actions of Indiana State Police Master Trooper Joe Swisher, Kokomo Police officers, and Kokomo medics most likely saved the life of an Indianapolis, IN woman.
At approximately 12:52 p.m., Howard County Dispatch broadcasted a possible drug overdose, in a vehicle, at Mohr Drive near Stafford Drive, in Kokomo. Master Trooper Swisher and officers from the Kokomo Police Department responded to the call, arriving at the vehicle in approximately two minutes. The officers found Katherine Potts, 24, Indianapolis, IN lying on the roadside unconscious, with lips turning blue, and not breathing. Potts had allegedly overdosed on heroin, while riding in a Chevrolet Cobalt with her boyfriend. The boyfriend had removed Potts from the car and was performing cardio pulmonary resuscitation when police officers arrived. The officers immediately rendered aide to Potts. Master Trooper Swisher put recent training to use and administered a nasal spray dose of Narcan (Naloxone) to Potts. The lifesaving drug revived Potts, who started breathing and normal color returned to her lips. She had to be given a second dose of Narcan, by responding paramedics, to bring her to full consciousness. Potts was transported, by ambulance, to a Kokomo hospital for further treatment.
Narcan is a medicine that blocks the effects of opioids and reverses an overdose. After a dose of Narcan, a person who has overdosed on opioids should begin to breathe more normally and it should become easier to wake them up.
Master Trooper Swisher received training and was issued his Narcan kit last Wednesday.