EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) -- Occupy Eugene protestors are speaking out regarding an alleged drug overdose inside of the camp on Saturday evening.
Around 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 19th, 2011, Eugene Police and paramedics were called out to the Occupy Eugene camp at the Washington-Jefferson Park off 6th Avenue.
Emergency responders were told that a man in his 30's had overdosed on heroin, passing out near other Occupy protestors with a shallow pulse. Protestors immediately called 911. Two protestors on scene including a registered nurse and a doctor then gave the man CPR for about 8 minutes before paramedics arrived.
Occupy Eugene protestors say when paramedics arrived, the man was stabilized and seen sitting up and talking.
The man refused transport to the hospital by an ambulance. Occupy Eugene protestors gave him a ride to the hospital shortly there after.
Occupy Eugene protestors released a statement Sunday, saying, “Due to the Occupy camp’s presence the situation was reacted to quickly and effectively with volunteer medical professionals on site when the overdose occurred, an immediate call placed to 9-1-1 and follow through medical assistance.”
An Occupy Eugene protestor, Jamil Jonna spoke with NewsSource 16 Saturday night after the incident. Jonna ultimately gave the victim a ride to the hospital. Jonna says the Occupy protestors who gave the victim CPR on scene likely saved his life.
“It's an enormous challenge. We need a lot more assistance and people should recognize that this is something that happens everyday, and the only reason we're reporting on it is because it happened on our site,” said Jonna.
To read Occupy Eugene's entire response to the incident, click the following link: http://occupyeugenemedia.org/2011/11/20/occupy-eugene-responds-effectively-to-crisis/
