Four people incarcerated in Whatcom jail taken to hospital after suspected overdoses
Four people incarcerated in the Whatcom County Jail in downtown Bellingham were taken to the hospital Tuesday afternoon after all four experienced suspected opioid overdoses.
Three of the four inmates were unresponsive or unconscious at the time Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office corrections deputies found them, according to a sheriff’s office news release on the Feb. 7 incident.
All four were taken to St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham.
The current medical statuses of the four people were not immediately available Wednesday morning, Feb. 8.
Overdose symptoms
A corrections deputy monitoring the control panel in the downtown jail noticed a male inmate on the ground and not moving at around 1:15 p.m. Other corrections deputies found the incarcerated man in a housing unit unresponsive and exhibiting symptoms consistent with a drug overdose, the sheriff’s office press release states.
Deputies started CPR and gave the man Narcan,a medication used to reverse the effects of opioids such as fentanyl. It is commonly used during a suspected opioid overdose.
Deputies also called 911 for additional medical personnel to take the incarcerated man to the hospital, the release states.
Two more incarcerated people in the housing unit were also found to be unconscious and not breathing shortly after deputies began treating the first inmate, according to the release.
Deputies started CPR and also gave the additional two inmates Narcan. Another round of Narcan was given to all three of the incarcerated people, after which they all recovered a pulse and began breathing on their own, the release states.
While deputies were checking the rest of the housing unit, a fourth incarcerated person was found who was exhibiting signs of an overdose, including labored breathing and reduced levels of consciousness, according to the release. The fourth inmate was also given Narcan, the release states.
Bellingham Fire Department personnel continued advanced medical care, the release states. All four of the inmates were taken to the hospital for further assessment and treatment.
The remaining inmates in the housing unit were being monitored for overdose symptoms, the release states. It was not immediately known Wednesday morning if any additional inmates experienced overdose symptoms, had to receive medical treatment or be taken to the hospital.
“This incident highlights the clear and present danger that opioids pose to individual health and safety. The surging fentanyl epidemic and the deadly risk even a small amount poses cannot be overstated,” Whatcom County Undersheriff Doug Chadwick said in a prepared statement. “We are fortunate that alert and highly trained corrections deputies responded quickly and took immediate lifesaving actions.”
Investigation starts
The sheriff’s office suspects opioids were smuggled into the jail and ingested by several people incarcerated in the housing unit, according to the release.
No drugs or contraband were found in the housing unit during a search conducted immediately after the medical response, the release states.
The sheriff’s office has started an investigation to determine how the drugs may have been smuggled into the facility and the housing unit.
The incident follows a similar one that occurred roughly two weeks ago in which several inmates notified corrections deputies of a suspected overdose. Deputies revived the inmate who made a full recovery, the release states.
This story was originally published February 8, 2023 at 9:10 AM.
