EMS Body Camera Used in West Virginia Heroin Story

CABELL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – A WSAZ investigation into the heroin epidemic in Cabell County quickly went viral. Now, we are following up with the young man shown overdosing and the paramedics who saved him in that shocking body camera video.

In WSAZ Investigates: A Dose of Reality, 26-year-old Joey overdoses on heroin in his Barboursville home. His mom calls 911, and Cabell County EMS Supervisor Chad Ward arrives on scene first.

JEMS Facebook,

I’m the medic that pushes the Narcan.

Thanks for the positive responses our agency has received. Before anyone starts running their mouth over HIPPA WSAZ as well as CCEMS obtained written consent for the patient, by the patient, and his mother to be on the news. This was done for a positive response to show the community how “bad” this problem has became. This was not done in any intentions to make anyone “look bad”.

Thanks again all.

The cameras came about for law enforcement originally.  Then we strated getting a lot of publicity in regards to the excessive 911 calls we were running dealing with overdoses. Well over 900 overdosed on our county last year and we are running at least 4-5 a day couunty wide with the most being 14 in one day.  I’m not sure if the news contacted us wanting to see if we could get one on video and the patient give consent in attempts to lower the numbers to in a sense “scare” people or what.  Our supervisors are the only paramedics at thiscurrent time with the cameras and they are used on such natured complaints.

JEMS on HIPAA

A Dose of Reality, Part Two

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