A White Rock man was confused to hear pounding on his door in the early morning hours of Nov. 19, 2020.
His befuddlement must have grown when he opened it to find several firefighters standing outside. They told the man they had been dispatched to the house because someone was in medical distress.
The resident was convinced they had the wrong address and told them so.
But the White Rock firefighters insisted they were at the right location and that someone inside needed their help.
The man, who was renting a basement suite in the house from a family member, allowed the firefighters inside to search the house, where they found a young man inside his bedroom, unconscious and barely breathing.
Curiously, nobody from the house had phoned for medical assistance, nor, for that matter, did they have any clue their family member had overdosed on fentanyl and was clinging to life.
Rowan Buffett 含羞草研究社� an alias for a man whose identity Peace Arch News has agreed not to reveal 含羞草研究社� is sharing his story of survival as a way to encourage others who use substances to download and use the Lifeguard phone application.
Lifeguard uses GPS tracking and user-input information to alert firefighters and paramedics when someone appears to be overdosing. The app asks the user to input their name, location, and what substance they含羞草研究社檙e using. The app then kick-starts a timer that finishes with an alarm. If the user doesn含羞草研究社檛 stop the alarm, paramedics are dispatched to the location.
Buffett, who含羞草研究社檚 in his 20s, says he is alive because of the app, which has saved him not once, but twice.
On that November day, Buffett smoked fentanyl as a way to self-medicate because of severe pain in his leg. Although he含羞草研究社檇 had negative experiences with fentanyl in the past, it was one of the few drugs he could get his hands on that would give him comfort.
After smoking, he blacked out. The next thing he remembers, he told PAN, was waking up in the hallway surrounded by five firefighters.
含羞草研究社淚t didn含羞草研究社檛 take long until I realized what happened,含羞草研究社� Buffett said. 含羞草研究社淚 talked to (the firefighters) and I think they were kind of aware the app called them, but they had never had that happen before.含羞草研究社�
Paramedics arrived on scene shortly after, and first responders saved Buffett含羞草研究社檚 life by administering Naloxone. He was taken to hospital as a precaution.
含羞草研究社淚t was much more traumatic for (my family) at the time. I just woke up and everything含羞草研究社檚 fine for me, but they experienced the whole thing,含羞草研究社� Buffett said.
RELATED: 含羞草研究社�
A few months later, it happened again.
On Jan. 9, firefighters and paramedics received a similar call to the same address. This time, Buffett wasn含羞草研究社檛 breathing. Again, his family had no idea he was in medical distress.
含羞草研究社淏ecause it was late at night and early in the morning, if I didn含羞草研究社檛 have the app, I含羞草研究社檓 pretty much positive I wouldn含羞草研究社檛 have survived,含羞草研究社� Buffett said.
The app, which was launched in May 2020, was recommended to Buffett by Sources manager of substance use services George Passmore.
When the app was brought to Buffett含羞草研究社檚 attention, he said he didn含羞草研究社檛 intend to use it.
含羞草研究社淚 just thought this maybe will come in handy or I will be able to show somebody else. It just seemed like a good idea for an app, I guess,含羞草研究社� Buffett said.
His second overdose was the push Buffett needed to seek treatment.
含羞草研究社淪omebody said at one point, the app could have not worked. And after the second time, it含羞草研究社檚 just getting a bit ridiculous. I can含羞草研究社檛 keep doing that because it含羞草研究社檚 so dangerous,含羞草研究社� he said.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e been good since then.含羞草研究社�
The drug overdose crisis killed 1,716 people B.C. in 2020, making it the deadliest year of the overdose crisis in the province. Some of the deceased were close friends of Buffett.
Buffett said he含羞草研究社檚 willing to share his story as a way to encourage people to use the app, or to share details about the app with a friend or family member who uses substances.
含羞草研究社淚 used it every single time. It wasn含羞草研究社檛 much of a burden,含羞草研究社� Buffett said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a small inconvenience for the possible good that it does. I hope people will realize that.含羞草研究社�
White Rock fire Chief Ed Wolfe told PAN that calls from the app go directly to dispatch. The information about the call is not provided to police.
In Buffett含羞草研究社檚 case, someone was available to open the door for firefighters and paramedics. If they were to encounter a locked door, Wolfe said firefighters have authority to enter by other means.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 very valuable. It含羞草研究社檚 essentially a life-saving piece,含羞草研究社� Wolfe said of the app.
Buffett含羞草研究社檚 story drew an emotional response from Lifeguard founder Jeff Hardy, who also lives in White Rock.
含羞草研究社淗onestly, I含羞草研究社檓 going to cry,含羞草研究社� Hardy said. 含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 exactly what it was made for, exactly. I含羞草研究社檓 proud, honoured, and I含羞草研究社檓 happy that the gentleman is alive and is in treatment. I couldn含羞草研究社檛 be happier to hear that含羞草研究社�. and it含羞草研究社檚 a White Rock guy.含羞草研究社�
Hardy said Buffett含羞草研究社檚 story is an 含羞草研究社渦nbelievable testimonial含羞草研究社� for the app.
含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 the best one we have, to be honest with you.含羞草研究社�
According to BC Emergency Health Services, as of Feb. 28 there have been a total of 3,705 unique Lifeguard app users, and 30,113 all-time sessions. To date, Lifeguard usage has prompted 60 emergency responder calls and 14 overdose reversals.
No deaths have occurred during the use of Lifeguard.
Told of Buffett含羞草研究社檚 story, BCEHS senior provincial executive director and head of dispatch operations Neil Lilley, who assisted in developing the Lifeguard app, said he was at a loss for words.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檒l be honest, the hairs are standing on the back of my neck,含羞草研究社� Lilley said. 含羞草研究社淭o get that feedback from you, and to know that not only did it save somebody含羞草研究社檚 life on two occasions, but that it含羞草研究社檚 given the encouragement to get some treatment as well, it含羞草研究社檚 just amazing,含羞草研究社� Lilley said.
More than three years ago, Lilley was approached by Hardy about the app. Since then, Lilley has been working with Lifeguard, which is directly connected into BCEHS 911 system, and is an executive sponsor of the project.
含羞草研究社淚 just want everybody that uses drugs alone to realize that it含羞草研究社檚 not safe. Anything can happen to them. (If) they download the Lifeguard application and have it on their phone, they have a chance of survival,含羞草研究社� Lilley said.
Information about the Lifeguard app and how to download it can be found at
People who are seeking substance use treatment can contact Sources at 604-538-2522 or email susservices@sourcesbc.ca. People can also contact White Rock Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) clinic at 604-541-6844.
aaron.hinks@peacearchnews.com
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