The Jackson Township First Aid Squad recorded its second CPR save of 2014 on March 29, when Squad members responded to a call of a 29-year-old unresponsive man in the area of Perrineville Rd. The patient, suffering from a suspected overdose, was not breathing when first responders arrived, and despite artificial respiration his heart stopped. CPR was performed by the crew while the patient was in the ambulance, until a paramedic unit arrived and was able to reverse the overdose. As of March 31, the patient was in stable condition in the intensive care unit at Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood.
An ambulance was originally dispatched at approximately 10:40pm for a report of an unresponsive male. When an ambulance and an EMS supervisor arrived on scene, they discovered that the patient was not breathing, and began rescue breaths. Questioning of bystanders eventually revealed that the cause was an opiate overdose. The patient was moved rapidly to the ambulance, where CPR began after his heart stopped. The ambulance met a MONOC paramedic unit, who administered medications to the patient that restored his breathing. The patient was then transported to Kimball Medical Center. The Jackson Township Police Department assisted on scene and handled the investigation into the cause of the incident.
Overdose related deaths, especially from heroin and other opiates, are rising alarmingly in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. In 2012, Ocean County had the highest number of overdose related deaths in the state. That number nearly doubled in 2013, leading the Department of Health to recently issue waivers that will eventually allow more widespread access to the opiate antidote naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan.
The Jackson Township First Aid Squad, founded in 1953, is an entirely volunteer, donation-funded charitable organization that provides basic life support ambulance services to the Township of Jackson between the hours of 6 pm and 5 am daily.
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