Bugle Staff
Romeoville police revived a 40-year-old man from what could have been a fatal heroin overdose.
The Romeoville Police Department said officers responded to the 1200 block of Pullman at about 5:15 p.m. May 5 for a call that a man was unresponsive. Upon arrival, the officers learned that the victim had just injected himself with heroin.
Officer Kyle Long began CPR, while officer Christopher Swiatek administered one dose of the opioid antagonist Narcan (naloxone) to the victim. The victim started to show signs of reviving and officers continued CPR until the Romeoville Fire Department arrived.
Personnel from the fire department administered another dose of naloxone and the victim started breathing on his own.
The police department commended Long and Swiatek for their efforts, saying that the officers likely saved the victim’s life.
This incident comes days after a Will County event calling attention to the region’s heroin epidemic was held in Romeoville. With 20 confirmed overdose deaths linked to heroin or prescription opioids, the county is on pace to shatter its record of 53 heroin overdose deaths set in 2015 and 2012.