Woodstock Police Save Another Overdose Victim

Two more officers with the Woodstock Police Department can be credited with saving the life of a resident suffering from a heroin overdose.

At 7:24 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, officers Travis King and Yvonne Letzin were both dispatched to a call regarding an unconscious man inside a Woodstock hotel.

According to the police department’s press release, the man was found unresponsive with a ”dangerously low respiratory rate.” Both officers made the decision to administer a full dose of Narcan, an antidote designed to temporarily reverse the effects of a drug overdose caused by opiates.

Within thirty seconds, the male regained consciousness, his respiratory rate began to climb and he began conversing with the officers. The patient was transported in stable condition to an area hospital for treatment.

“The Woodstock Police Department is extremely proud of the actions of Officer Travis King and Officer Yvonne Letzin,” the agency said. “Through their quick actions, they were able to begin to stabilize the male who was in immediate need of medical attention.”

Just two days earlier, officer Matthew Carroll used Narcan to revive a patient also found unresponsive inside a home.

The police department in September 2014 deployed a training program on the antidote — also known as naloxone — for all officers, who are now equipped with the medication to use when necessary.

Naloxone is an easy-to-use, lifesaving antidote to overdoses from heroin or other opioids. Used in hospitals for decades, the medication has no abuse potential and can be administered with basic training

The medication is useful to temporarily reverse an overdose of heroin, codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine and oxycodone.

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Photo: Officer Travis King, left, and Yvonne Letzin. Credit: Woodstock Police Department