Full Notification

Shortly after midnight tonight, March 7, 2019, Santa Barbara County Fire personnel, American Medical Response (AMR) medics, and Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies along with UCSB police officers assigned to the Isla Vista Foot Patrol responded to a residence in the 6600 block of Trigo Road in Isla Vista for a report of an unresponsive 20-year-old woman. The reporting party told Dispatchers that the woman was unconscious and not breathing and it was suspected that she had suffered a drug overdose.

Law enforcement personnel arrived on-scene within minutes of the initial call and began life saving efforts. Prescription opioid medication was found near the victim and believing this was an opioid overdose, Naloxone Hydrochloride was administered to the victim. The victim began to breath on her own and a weak pulse could be detected. Once Santa Barbara County Fire personnel arrived on-scene they took over lifesaving efforts. The patient was then transported to a local hospital by AMR medics for further treatment.

Naloxone Hydrochloride, more commonly known by the brand name NARCAN®, blocks the life-threatening effects of opioid overdose (both medications and narcotics) including extreme drowsiness, slowed breathing, or loss of consciousness. Due to the quick thinking and actions of the law enforcement personnel, this incident ended with a life saved instead of a drug overdose death.

All Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies receive training on the use of Naloxone. This lifesaving training is accomplished through the combined effort of the Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Barbara County Emergency Medical Services Agency.

###