By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
CLAREMONT, N.H. — Thanks to the quick action by local police, fire and EMS officials, the life of a 9-month old baby, who was overdosing on fentanyl, was saved after being administered a dose of Narcan on Thursday.
Police Sgt. Michael Puksta arrived within one minute of being dispatched and administered “a lifesaving dose” of Narcan, according to a report released by Claremont Police Chief Brent Wilmot. Wilmot reported that Claremont Safety Services were dispatched to the area of Main and Union Streets in Claremont for a report of a 9-month-old baby who was in a vehicle overdosing on the suspected narcotic.
Wilmot explained that the mother was not home at the time of the incident, but received a phone call from an adult male who realized that the baby may have gotten into the narcotic. She went to the home and grabbed the child to go to the hospital, but called 911 during the ride.
The mother was instructed to pull over and the dispatch gave CPR instructions immediately, while sending the coordinates of the exact location of where the vehicle stopped. Puksta administered the dose of Narcan and moments later, Golden Cross Ambulance and Claremont Fire Department members arrived and took the child to Valley Regional Hospital for emergency care. The child was later transferred via DHART helicopter to Dartmouth Health in Lebanon.
Charlestown Police got involved when it was discovered that the mother lived in Charlestown, and Sgt. Graham continued the investigation. Claremont Police officers and detectives assisted in the investigation, but Wilmot said it is now in the hands of the Charlestown Police Department.
Graham said that this does appear to be accidental in nature.
“There was nothing that indicates that it was intentional,” Graham said. “It was reckless.”
When asked for a comment about the dangers of fentanyl, especially in the company of young children, Graham said the story “speaks for itself.”
“People who expose children to fentanyl aren’t really listening to what the police are saying,” Graham said. “People would read this and be like, ‘what are you thinking?’ It does just go to show the extent of the problem with narcotics we have in the area.”
Wilmot agreed, and said there are innocent people being affected by the dangers of this drug. The police intervention with Narcan very well could have saved this baby’s life, and Graham said, “if you have an addict in the family, it’s probably not a bad thing to have around.”
Claremont Police Chief Brent Wilmot said that he was leaving information “intentionally vague,” because if he identified the mother, the child could be identified easier. Charges are expected and Graham said the case will be forwarded to the county attorney’s office. No arrests were made, and Graham noted that with felony cases they “like to slow things down,” as there are records that need to be gathered.
The Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) was contacted and is actively working on this matter. Wilmot was asked about the condition of the child, but he did not respond by deadline.
Anyone with information on this matter is asked to call Lt. Graham of the Charlestown Police Department at 603-826-5747.
