West Haven Beach Lifeguards Receive Lifesaving Narcan Training

WEST HAVEN, CT — (Pictured): Beach lifeguards of the Department of Parks and Recreation show their new Narcan emergency overdose kits with Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana, right, and Pool and Waterfront Coordinator Margaret Ruggiero, second from right, on the city’s shoreline boardwalk Wednesday, Aug. 7.

From left, lifeguards Geffen Waterman, Brandon Sihaphong, Jeffery Flores-Copa, Chris Holt, Molly Wilson, Daniela Velez, Isaiah Correia, Haley Lippard, Brooke Nebor, Caly Nyack, Amber Militrano and Anglin Hebert.

Ruggiero, who supervises Park-Rec’s beach lifeguards, said her staff received “knowledge, training and expertise” from Fontana in administering Narcan, a brand name for a device that delivers the opioid-overdose antidote naloxone.

“This is so vital for our lifeguards to be knowledgeable and trained in how to identify possible overdose situations, as they are the first responders on the shoreline,” Ruggiero said. “Thanks so very much to Mr. Fontana for providing Narcan that these lifeguards now carry in case of an emergency situation should occur on our guarded beaches.”

Each Narcan overdose kit contains two 4-milligram nasal sprays.

Fontana has been installing the grant-funded kits in many municipal buildings and public places around West Haven.

This press release was produced by the City of West Haven. The views expressed here are the author’s own.