32. Chapter 32
Chapter thirty-two
Alex
Alex could hear a loud commotion down the hall, which had awakened him. He looked down at his watch. Five a.m.? What the hell is going on? He dressed quickly and walked down the hallway toward the other strike team members’ rooms. Turning the corner, he was shocked at the sight of Galen standing over Hoko’s body.
Alex yelled, “Step back! No one approach Hoko or touches him until I’ve determined the scene is safe!”
He quickly scanned the surroundings to assess the situation as Galen stood and stepped back from Hoko. Alex could see Hoko was unconscious, lying on his side. He concluded there was no danger in the immediate area, such as standing water or risk of electrical shock. He knelt by Hoko and rolled him onto his back, where he could see his breathing was shallow. Alex could sense Hoko’s heartbeat was feeble. He pulled up Hoko’s eyelids with his fingers to see his pinpoint pupils. The skin on his face was cold and turning a shade of pale blue. Alex knew what these signs meant; this was a drug overdose!
Alex calmly instructed Galen to get the medical kit and ensure it contained Narcan and an Automated External Defibrillator. He knew with a drug overdose, every minute was precious. Alex yelled instructions to Andrea to call 911 immediately. Galen ran to get the medical supplies and returned, kneeling by Alex.
Alex told Galen to stand back and that even brief contact with a substance like Fentanyl could be deadly. Galen took several steps back to give Alex room to work as the other team members arrived to see the commotion. Alex removed the Narcan nasal spray from the package and put his hand under Hoko’s neck to raise it. He sprayed once in the right nostril and waited for a response, but nothing happened. Alex repeated the process in the other nostril.
Please, please respond, Hoko. Damn it, please, I need you.
Galen prepared the AED as Alex opened Hoko’s shirt and placed the pads on Hoko’s chest. Galen plugged the wire into the pads and turned the machine on by pushing the red button.
AED powering on, please place the pads on the chest…please step back…assessing heart rhythm…abnormal rhythm detected…shocked advised, declared the AED.
“Everyone, stand back!” Alex said, standing and stepping back. Galen pressed the red button.
Administering shock…shock administered…assessing heart rhythm…abnormal rhythm detected…shock advised.
Galen pressed the button again, and everyone stood back.
Shock administered…assessing heart rhythm…no heartbeat detected…immediately start CPR and rescue breathing.
Alex knelt over Hoko’s chest and began making chest compressions. His muscles ached, but he couldn’t stop; no one else could safely touch Hoko’s body. Damn it, Hoko! Keep fighting; I can’t lose you!
Galen pleaded with Alex to let him help, but Alex shook his head. He couldn’t risk exposing Galen. Alex didn’t stop even when he heard Galen yelling the ambulance had arrived.
“What do we have?” said the first of three EMTs arriving on the scene. Galen said it was a suspected opiate overdose. He relayed two rounds of Narcan were administered, and the AED administered two shocks before CPR was started. Galen also told them Alex had been performing CPR for around thirty minutes. The EMT asked how Alex wasn’t exhausted and expressed concern about him not wearing gloves or using a face shield. Galen explained that everything had happened so fast. The lead EMT asked Galen to have Alex step back so they could reassess the situation.
But Alex didn’t stop.
“Please, Alex, let the EMTs do their job,” pleaded Galen.
Alex reluctantly stepped back from Hoko’s body to let the EMTs do their work. He watched silently, running his hands through his hair. He had no time to panic since he’d jumped into action, but now he could feel the growing anxiety in his chest.
The third EMT asked if Alex was OK. Alex, visibly shaking, nodded. The EMT asked Alex to accompany him while they moved Hoko to the ambulance. Alex stared blankly into the distance as the EMT decontaminated his hands and face. The EMT commented Galen needed to watch Alex to monitor if he exhibited any additional symptoms of shock. Galen nodded and sat with Alex while the EMTs loaded Hoko in the ambulance.
As the ambulance with Hoko and Ryo prepared to pull away, the lead EMT asked Alex how he knew how to respond so quickly. Alex weakly replied he was a college professor and trained yearly in CPR and responding to opiate overdoses. As he closed the ambulance doors, the EMT said Alex was a lifesaver and told him he needed to shower immediately to prevent any potential cross-contamination.