Prince William County Peer Support Specialists Save Woman from Fatal Overdose

Prince William County Department of Community Services Peer Support Specialists Kishawna Scarborough and Ashim Pandey recently found themselves in a situation where they had the chance to save a life. While participating in a Department of Community Services outreach initiative, distributing naloxone kits and providing information about available resources, they noticed a visibly distressed man and stepped forward to offer assistance. The man had already called emergency medical services, or EMS, for the woman who had overdosed, and Scarborough and Pandey accompanied him to the scene and gave a naloxone kit to one of the woman's friends who administered the naloxone with their guidance.

Key Takeaways:

• Kishawna Scarborough and Ashim Pandey, Prince William County Department of Community Services Peer Support Specialists, saved a woman from a fatal overdose during a community outreach initiative.
• The pair noticed a visibly distressed man who had already called emergency medical services for the woman, and they accompanied him to the scene to assist in administering naloxone.
• Pandey and Scarborough had received REVIVE! training, which equipped them with the knowledge to recognize and respond to opioid overdose emergencies.
• The naloxone kit was administered by one of the woman's friends, and the woman regained consciousness within minutes.
• Pandey stayed with the woman, providing recovery resources and sharing his own recovery story until EMS arrived to take over her care.
• Scarborough credited the REVIVE! training for providing her with valuable knowledge to help the individual.
• The incident highlights the importance of peer support specialists in making a positive impact on the lives of others and experiencing personal growth and fulfillment.

Statistics:

• The woman was 24 years old at the time of the overdose.
• The incident occurred during a community outreach initiative led by the Prince William County Department of Community Services.
• Pandey and Scarborough used their own lived experience as near-peer support specialists to guide and encourage the individual and connect them to available resources.
• The REVIVE! training has equipped community services staff with valuable knowledge to recognize and respond to opioid overdose emergencies.

Sources:

• Prince William County Department of Community Services
• REVIVE! Training Program