The life of a man who was suffering from an apparent overdose of opioids is saved on Tuesday by the efforts of Vernon County Sheriff's deputies.
Sheriff Roy Torgerson said the Clerk of Courts office got a call about 9:45 a.m. for an unresponsive man inside a car in the parking lot of the Vernon County Courthouse.
A court security officer who is also a sheriff's deputy came out and realized the man had symptoms of an opioid overdose.
The deputy called for additional help. A second court security officer and part-time deputy who'd arrived went and got medical equipment from a patrol vehicle.
They then began treating the man.
Viroqua Police, Fire, and EMTs came to the parking lot and provided additional care.
The man went to Vernon Health where he was treated and released.
Sheriff Torgerson stated that while most of the incidents involving opioid overdoses are related to illegal drugs, it can happen to people who have legally prescribed opioid medication.
He also said that last week Viroqua Police received a grant to make Narcan more available to the public.