Town Of Hempstead To Distribute Narcan Overdose Reversal Drug To Emergency Responders

POINT LOOKOUT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The Hempstead town supervisor has approved training and handing out Narcan overdose reversal kits to emergency responders.

The decision came a few months after a young person's life was saved by the emergency medication – also known as naloxone – in Echo Park in the Town of Hempstead.

Narcan kits will go to emergency responders, lifeguards, bay constables, and park workers who will monitor the pools, the bay and the beaches for anyone who has overdoses.

"The beauty of Narcan is that is it a pure antagonist -- meaning that it will work every time for a narcotics overdose -- and it is effective 100 percent of the time," said Hempstead Medical Director Dr. David Neubert. "So if it is administered properly and quickly to someone that has overdosed, it will reverse the effects of the narcotics and it will save their life."

Dozens of workers already have the kits, and soon, 250 more will be trained to use Narcan.