December 10, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Franklin Lakes Two borough police officers save two lives by Frank J McMahon Two Franklin Lakes police officers recently saved the lives of two individuals who had overdosed on drugs by using the new antidote named Narcan, the brand name for Naloxone. Naloxone is a medicine indicated for the complete or partial reversal of opioid depression, including respiratory depression induced by natural and synthetic opioids. According to the borough’s police chief, Carmine Pezzuti, the two police officers were called to a home in the borough on Sunday, Nov. 23. Two individuals in the home had overdosed. The officers immediately drew the Narcan into a syringe and sprayed a half dose up the nos- trils of each of the individuals and they both recovered very quickly. Narcan may also be diluted for intravenous infusion in normal saline or five percent dextrose solu- tions. “If we had arrived five minutes later on that call, they probably both would be dead,” Pezzuti said. In the process of providing first aid, however, one of the police officers was stuck by a needle that was used by the individuals who overdosed and he had to be taken to the hospital to be tested for the Hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by infection with the Hepatitis C virus. Pezzuti said that, as of Nov. 23, the officer was clear of the disease, but he will have to have his blood tested every month for six months, and every year after that for the rest of his life to make sure the disease has not manifested itself because of this incident with the needle. Pezzuti pointed out that there have been about a half- dozen incidents involving opioid overdose within the bor- ough, although not necessarily by residents, but people visiting in the borough, and there was one fatality earlier this year or late last year. He advised that his police officers started carrying Narcan in the pockets of the automated external defibril- lators in their police cars about a month ago after it was provided by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, and after all officers had undergone training in its use. “I couldn’t be prouder of those two officers,” Pezzuti said. “Even knowing the risk, they both said they would go again. I couldn’t be prouder of these guys.” Mayor Frank Bivona and the borough council also praised the two police officers at a recent work session. “In the line of duty, they put their lives at risk every day,” Bivona said. Councilman Charles Kahwaty added his praise of the two police officers, saying, “This is an example of how police officers put their lives on the line in unusual ways.” Menorah Lighting and festivities set The community is invited to the Franklin Lakes Bor- ough Hall Menorah Lighting and “Frozen” Menorah Carving on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. Mayor Frank Bivona and local officials will be on hand to assist with the festivities on the front lawn of borough hall on DeKorte Drive. The event will also feature a live ice-carving demo of a six-foot ice menorah by Kristoff and Olaf, live music, hot Chanukah refreshments, glow giveaways, and prizes. Children are invited to make Chanukah crafts at the ambulance corps building on Bender Court. For more information, or to help sponsor the event, call Chabad Jewish Center at (201) 848-0449 or visit www. chabadplace.org. Library Board of Trustees to meet The Franklin Lakes Library Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. in the Local History Room of the library at 470 DeKorte Drive. The public is invited. For more information, call (201) 891-2224. All the council members agreed that more has to be done to protect police officers. Bivona said the borough recognizes that need, and the service police officers pro- vide to the community. Bivona added that he was surprised that drugs are so prevalent in the community and he emphasized that the public needs to be made aware of the use of drugs in this community. Recent published reports have described the use of Narcan by police in several communities to save the lives of individuals who have overdosed on drugs. In Fairview in early November, a 29-year-old man was reportedly saved after he overdosed in an attempted suicide. In Mahwah, police officers saved a 28-year-old who was unconscious in a public bathroom, and another person who was unconscious in his home. Recently, Pompton Lakes police were also reported to have revived a 27-year-old man from a suspected overdose by the use of Narcan, and Woodcliff Lake and Montvale police recently used the product to save a 24-year-old man from a suspected overdose.