Seamless teamwork to deal with a life-threatening overdose
During a routine check of the public single-use washrooms in the facility in which he was working, Security Guard Awaijan Mohammad noticed that one of the doors was locked, but there was no response when he knocked and announced himself.
Feeling that something might be wrong, he informed Dispatch Officer Rupinder Kaur and asked her to review the security footage to determine whether someone was inside. Officer Kaur quickly discovered that a man had entered the washroom and had not been seen to leave. She immediately dispatched Shift Lead Arashdeep Hanspal, who joined Mohammad to unlock and open the door.
Inside, they found a man unconscious, slumped over the toilet, with syringes scattered on the floor. Reacting quickly, Hanspal retrieved a first aid kid and Narcan, while Mohammad radioed for 911 to report a suspected overdose. Kaur remained in constant communication with the team, relaying instructions from emergency dispatch to the officers on-site and keeping everyone informed.
Mohammad and Hanspal moved the man to the floor in the recovery position, but despite multiple attempts to wake him, his breathing remained shallow and his pulse was weak, prompting them to administer Narcan. Meanwhile, Security Guard Pratham Rupal positioned himself at the washroom entrance, assisting patrons while blocking the view of the unfolding emergency to ensure privacy. He also guided emergency responders from the street to the scene.
Although the Narcan did not immediately revive the man, it did stabilize his heartbeat, improve his breathing and warmed his previously cold, clammy skin. When paramedics arrived, they used their equipment to bring the man back to consciousness. Once he was stable, Hanspal escorted him off the property. The man expressed both gratitude and regret, thanking the security team for their help.
The entire response was handled with seamless teamwork and genuine care for the individual.
Keep up the great work, Security Guards Mohammad and Rupal, Dispatch Officer Kaur and Shift Lead Hanspal!
Canadian Security Lifesaver Association®