2014 -- S 2852

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LC005378

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING AND THANKING THE COVENTRY POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE

CENTRAL COVENTRY FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY SERVICE

SAVING THE LIVES OF TWO PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM A SUSPECTED OPIOID

DRUG OVERDOSE ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH 30, 2014

     

     Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Kettle, Cool Rumsey, Archambault, and Algiere

     Date Introduced: April 08, 2014

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, Everyday someone in the United States has their life saved by a Firefighter,

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Police Officer and other First Responders. Firefighters, Police Officers and First Responders are

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highly trained and educated professionals who work tirelessly and often risk their lives in service

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to others. These dedicated individuals perform duties that are vital to the well-being of our

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neighborhoods and communities; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island is currently suffering from an epidemic of overdose deaths

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due to the illegal use of heroin and opiates. In 2012, one hundred and eighty people died from

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overdoses of heroin and opiates, and the number of such fatalities in Rhode Island is expected to

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exceed three hundred and twenty deaths in 2014; and

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     WHEREAS, On March 30, 2014, an emergency phone call was received in Coventry

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reporting that two people were possibly suffering from a drug overdose. Arriving quickly on the

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scene were Coventry Police Officers, Sergeant David Nelson, Officer Robert Jacavone, Officer

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Jadine Ferri and Officer Michael DeLuca. Upon their arrival, they quickly assessed and stabilized

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the situation and helped to clear the airway of the young male in question; and

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     WHEREAS, Shortly thereafter, Central Coventry Firefighters, Captain Russell Giles,

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Firefighter David Simpson, Lieutenant Ronald Preston, and Firefighter Benjamin Octeau, along

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with backup from Lieutenant Ted Dion, Firefighter Joseph Borquin, Lieutenant Robert Paul and

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Firefighter Derek Foster, arrived on the scene. When they arrived they found two people, a young

 

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woman and a young man, lying on the floor and unresponsive to any commands. The twenty-

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three year old female had no blood pressure and was in respiratory arrest; and

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     WHEREAS, The Central Coventry Firefighters made a rapid assessment of this dire

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situation and promulgated a treatment plan in line with Rhode Island EMS protocols. The young

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male immediately responded to medical treatment and was transported to Kent County Memorial

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Hospital. The young female's condition was far more severe but thanks to the exemplary life-

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saving care provided by these devoted first responders, her blood pressure and respirations were

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restored within five minutes and shortly thereafter, while she was en route to the hospital,

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additional improvements were made in her vital signs and level of consciousness; and

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     WHEREAS, Thanks to the exemplary actions of these Coventry Police Officers and

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Firefighters, all of whom literally arrived within 5 minutes of receiving the emergency phone call,

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the lives of two young individuals were saved. The citizens of Coventry are blessed to have these

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highly trained and dedicated professionals serving their community; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby honors and thanks Coventry Police Officers, Sergeant David Nelson, Officer Robert

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Jacavone, Officer Jadine Ferri, Officer Michael DeLuca and Central Coventry Firefighters,

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Captain Russell Giles, Firefighter David Simpson, Lieutenant Ronald Preston, Firefighter

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Benjamin Octeau, Lieutenant Ted Dion, Firefighter Joseph Borquin, Lieutenant Robert Paul and

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Firefighter Derek Foster for saving the lives of two people on March 30, 2014; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Coventry Police Officers, Sergeant David

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Nelson, Officer Robert Jacavone, Officer Jadine Ferri, Officer Michael DeLuca, and Central

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Coventry Firefighters, Captain Russell Giles, Firefighter David Simpson, Lieutenant Ronald

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Preston, Firefighter Benjamin Octeau, Lieutenant Ted Dion, Firefighter Joseph Borquin,

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Lieutenant Robert Paul, and Firefighter Derek Foster.

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LC005378

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