Hall deputies save drug overdose victims

Hall County sheriff's deputies John Galloway and Charles Wallace saved the lives of overdose victims in separate incidents earlier this month by administering naloxone, a medication that reverses the effects of opioids.

 

On March 5, Wallace responded to a reported heroin overdose. The 23-year-old man’s breathing was labored and he was unresponsive. Wallace administered naloxone and within a minute the victim regained consciousness and he was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

 

The next day, Galloway answered a call concerning an 18-year-old female overdose victim. He found her not breathing and turning blue from lack of oxygen. Galloway administered naloxone and the victim began regaining consciousness. She was then taken to the medical center.

 

Both officers had received training in the application of naloxone through the Medical Association of Georgia Foundation’s "Project DAN" (Deaths Avoided by Naloxone). Project Dan also provides training kits and grants for first responder agencies to purchase the naloxone nasal spray.

 

“Project DAN training and the officers’ quick response saved the lives of these two victims,” Medical Association of Georgia Foundation President Jack M. Chapman Jr., M.D. said. “We have seen first responders use their training to save lives throughout North Georgia. We are very proud of the Project DAN program.”

 

There have been 37 lives saved in Georgia since the program started, including 34 in north Georgia.  These are not the first instances of lives being saved by Hall County officers.  (See earlier story.)

 

The Medical Association of Georgia Foundation sponsors the training sessions for law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the state. The initial money to fund ‘Project Dan’ came from the Medical Center Foundation in Gainesville’s annual golf tournament in 2015. 

 

More information about the Medical Association of Georgia’s ‘Project DAN’ campaign can be found at www.rxdrugabuse.org.