HCA’s Sue Green receives Governor’s Lifesaving Award

Sue, a substance use disorder professional (SUDP), performed hands-on assistance after recognizing someone was experiencing an overdose and administered lifesaving treatment in September 2022.

Sue was leaving Cherry Street Plaza when she saw two people gathered around a person lying down in the HCA parking lot. While bystanders were on the phone with 911, Sue suspected the person was overdosing, did a sternum rub with no response, then administered naloxone. The person began to regain consciousness, and Sue talked to him until emergency medical staff arrived.

Sue recognized the signs of an opioid overdose and was able to help because she had naloxone. A sternum rub is one way to check for an overdose – if they don’t wake up, it could be time to call 911.

Naloxone, commonly referred to as Narcan, is a medication that can reverse the effects of opioids during an overdose. Because overdoses can happen anywhere, naloxone is designed to be administered by anyone. Naloxone will not harm anyone, even if the patient does not have opioids in their system.

Sue will be honored at the Governor’s Lifesaving Awards in September, as part of the opening event for the Governor’s Industrial Safety and Health Conference.

HCA keeps naloxone kits on-site. Because this is a life-saving tool, the kits are located right next to the automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in the elevator lobby of each floor. This includes all floors of Cherry Street Plaza, as well as the floors we occupy in Townsquare buildings.

If you or a loved one is experiencing a substance use crisis, call/text 988 from any phone. 988 is safe, confidential, free, and available 24/7/365, connecting you with trained crisis counselors. To chat online, visit 988Lifeline.org.