JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody recognized eight Jacksonville first responders on Wednesday for saving a baby from a fentanyl overdose in June.
Moody was joined by Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, members of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department to present eight honorees with a "Back the Blue Award."
On June 5, police responded to a Spring Park apartment complex regarding an unresponsive child. Officers immediately began performing emergency medical care before rushing the seven-month-old baby to JFRD personnel.
The baby was administered naloxone, known as Narcan and taken to Wolfson Children's Hospital for treatment.
The life-saving dose of Narcan given to the child was provided by Attorney General Moody's Helping Heroes program.
"This action highlights the importance of equipping all first responders with the tools they need, such as naloxone, to combat the devastating epidemic—and I am grateful that our Helping Heroes program played an impactful role in this life-or-death situation," said Moody.
The incident highlights the ongoing opioid crisis happening across Florida and the country, Moody added. More than 100,000 Americans die each year due to drug overdoses nationwide — with most caused by fentanyl.
Nearly 600 Jacksonville residents died in 2022 due to a fentanyl overdose, according to the 2022 Florida Medical Examiners Report.