Big Sandy Police Chief David Easterling and Officer Kayla Sartor pose for a picture with the commendations they received from Big Sandy Mayor Linda Baggett. The mayor thanked the officers for administering Narcan to a 19-year-old, saving his life. (Contributed Photo)

From Staff Reports

BIG SANDY — Two Big Sandy law enforcement officers have received certificates of commendation from the town’s mayor for saving the life of a 19-year-old on May 2.

Big Sandy Mayor Linda Baggett presented Life Saving Awards to Big Sandy Police Chief David Easterling and Officer Kayla Sartor for successfully administering Narcan, a drug designed to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

At 3:47 p.m. May 2, Easterling and Sartor — along with deputies from the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office and firefighters from the Big Sandy Volunteer Fire Department — responded to a report of an unresponsive man at a residence on FM 2911, Baggett wrote in a May 14 news release.

Easterling and Sartor found the man unresponsive, not breathing and in “significant distress” on the floor of his bedroom, Baggett wrote. The officers saw that the man was turning purple in color, and they administered Narcan. Sartor has provided free Narcan training to 32 first responders in nine nearby agencies, Baggett said.

Easterling and Sartor provided additional care to the man until ambulance crews arrived. The man regained consciousness and was taken to a hospital in Tyler.

“Chief Easterling and Officer Sartor’s quick response, recognition of the severity of the medical emergency, immediate actions, and effective Narcan administration directly resulted in saving the life of a nineteen-year-old male,” Baggett wrote. “A failure to act or action after delay could have led to a tragic outcome.”