Westchester Honors Staff Who Gave Narcan To Student In Suspected OD

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Westchester County officially honored the nurses who rushed to help a New Rochelle student who experienced a medical emergency after vaping an unknown drug.

County Executive George Latimer and County Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD officially recognized the medical staff who administered Narcan (naloxone) to a New Rochelle High School student last week, after she vaped a substance that was believed, at the time, to be laced with fentanyl.

Since the incident, the New Rochelle Police Department told multiple media outlets, including Talk of the Sound and CBS2, that the student's bloodwork showed no evidence of opioids.

However, according to Centers for Disease Control guidelines, Narcan should be administered whenever an overdose is suspected as "naloxone won’t harm someone if they’re overdosing on drugs other than opioids, so it’s always best to use it if you think someone is overdosing."

SEE ALSO: New Rochelle HS Nurses Save Student With Narcan After Vaping OD

Medical Director Dr. Brooke Balchan, Nurses Diane Vetrano, Wendy Miceli, Lisa Grillo, and CNA Kymora Cameau were all honored for doing just that.

"We recognized the dangers of these substances more than eight years ago, when the Westchester County Health Department began training first responders to administer Narcan," Dr. Amler said. "To increase the potential to save lives, we have expanded our training program every year and, with the support of County Executive George Latimer, we continue to do so."

The Westchester County Health Department also took the opportunity to remind residents of its free, life-saving Naloxone (Narcan) Training Program. The training program can be taken by anyone 18 years of age or older who lives or works in Westchester County, and educates people on how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose.

"We would like to recognize these nurses from the New Rochelle City School District, for their heroic actions that ultimately saved this teen’s life," Latimer said. "We recognize that fentanyl is present in our communities and among young people, and we want our communities to be saturated with Narcan. Our school districts, communities, residents and families should know that our Health Department offers free Narcan training. Because of these nurses this student was given the gift of continued life, and they are all deserving of our most esteemed praise."

Naloxone is a prescription medication that is used to reverse an opioid overdose. The drug is provided for free to anyone who attends a training session. When administered correctly, Narcan nasal spray restores breathing that has been dangerously slowed by an overdose of heroin or prescription painkillers. If used quickly and effectively, Narcan has the potential to save lives.

The Health Department provides school trainings as well as community trainings, and residents who participate will receive a free Narcan kit. To learn more about Narcan or register for an upcoming Community Opioid Overdose Training Session, visit the Health Department's website.