Teamwork stopped an overdose from becoming a tragedy
While Paladin Security Guard Tekie Ghebrewoldi was on exterior patrol, he came across a member of the vulnerable sector who appeared to be in need of medical attention. Approaching the individual, Security Guard Ghebrewoldi quickly realized they were unresponsive and experiencing laboured breathing, and he suspected that the person was experiencing an opioid overdose.
Security Guard Musayyab Ahmed brought the medical crash bag to the scene, and the guards radioed their command centre to advise their team lead and call for emergency medical services. Ghebrewoldi and Ahmed administered a dose of Narcan and placed the individual in the recovery position. When the person did not become responsive, they administered a second dose.
Shortly after the second dose, EMS arrived on scene and the individual became responsive, returning to a normal breathing pattern.
Upon relating the situation to EMS and describing the care provided, the medics were impressed with Ghebrewoldi and Musayyab’s quick, effective actions, saying, “Hey, it seems like you did our job before we even got here – wow!”
Once the individual regained their faculties, they became irate, but the security guards maintained their compassionate care and professionalism, enabling EMS to leave the scene as all relevant medical care had been provided and the individual left the scene under their own power.
Security Guards Ghebrewoldi and Musayyab used their situational awareness, training and compassion to not only notice a person in distress but to immediately provide them with the help they needed.
Thank you, Security Guards Ghebrewoldi and Musayyab!
Canadian Security Lifesaver Association®