Question about EMS/Police response to 911 call for drug overdose... (San Antonio: home, construction)

[ptdad]

I wanted to get your opinions about an incident that happened earlier this week in San Antonio.

At a place of business, a customer arrived to pick up some construction material. He went in, notified them he was there to pick up an order, and proceeded to wait in his vehicle by the loading dock for his order. A few minutes later when his order is ready, an employee discovers him unconscious, turning blue with veins bulging out on his head & slumped over his steering wheel. He's found with a needle and has apparently injected himself with an unknown substance (likely heroin).

911 is called. Ambulance & Paramedics respond, no Police. He is still unconscious, but moving. They give him some type of injection (adrenaline?) and he starts to regain consciousness.

After a very short while, he is released by the paramedics to DRIVE home. Luckily, the customer's family was contacted by someone at the business, and he instead rides home with them.

My questions:

1) Is it typical for police not respond to 911 calls such as this?
2) Why would a drug overdose patient be released on the spot?
3) Would they really have allowed him to DRIVE after obvious drug consumption?

(Also, FWIW, we heard later that this person was released from jail less than 48 hours before this incident.)

[Bradford72]

There are too many assumptions in your version. What makes you think it was "likely heroin"? Could it be that it was some other injectable, legal medication? You're assuming it was an overdose, but perhaps the man was having a medical emergency and was attempting to inject his medication but failed to do so in time. Perhaps the paramedics were able to complete the medication for him, thus rendering him safe to proceed with his day.

As for being released from jail prior to the incident...we have no idea what the charge was. I think you're implying or assuming the arrest was substance related. Again, too many assumptions and too few facts.

[ptdad]

Bradford72 - There was additional paraphernalia on him that made it apparent these were not legal meds... As for the jail comment, I agree it could be totally unrelated, but I just found it odd he'd just be released and not transported to the hospital and/or police be involved if he's found unconscious & shooting up, especially if he'd just been in jail for whatever reason.

I believe TX has some fairly tough laws on possession of heroin, but I'm unfamiliar with how someone is treated who is thought to be under the influence of such drugs. As for the driving part, I would think DUI laws would apply. Like I said earlier, I was mainly curious as to when/if police would get notified and if he should have been released.

[SolaireSolstice]

No idea on the legalities, but the counter actor of choice for opioids is Narcan. It's instantaneous, and people are trying to make it over the counter for just this type of scenario IF it WAS a heroin overdose. Problem is, the effects of a narcotic are LONGER than the effect of Narcan (Narcan has a 30 minute affect period whereas an injectable style drug of choice would be hour or longer), so I would question the "let him drive home part" of any competent EMT, who I would put higher on a scale up against myself on an emergent situation. I like to rate myself just above "bait" on the zombie apocalypse survival pyramid. And I worked acute care for 15 years. Therefore I will say with a good bit of confidence, that your judgment of the actual issue may have been incorrect.

[Paka]

I don't believe EMS is allowed to transport or treat ANYONE who refuses treatment. Once they gave him the Narcan and he came to, he probably refused further treatment. They sign it off as an "AMA" (Against Medical Advice).

[HouTxn]

Could've been given narcan as stated. Also depends on what that EMS service protocol's state for that particular medical emergency.

[cbeltran428]

Originally Posted by Paka

I don't believe EMS is allowed to transport or treat ANYONE who refuses treatment. Once they gave him the Narcan and he came to, he probably refused further treatment. They sign it off as an "AMA" (Against Medical Advice).

This is very true, but I wonder if they should have notified the Police if it involved street drugs. Either way, too many what ifs in this story and not enough facts to know for sure.

[Paka]

Originally Posted by cbeltran428

This is very true, but I wonder if they should have notified the Police if it involved street drugs. Either way, too many what ifs in this story and not enough facts to know for sure.

You are right, too many "what if's", but I feel certain his "info" would have been passed on to LEO since they had to get it to treat him initially.