Michigan State Police troopers help save woman's life after heroin overdose
Two Michigan State Police troopers helped save a woman’s life Tuesday afternoon in Ypsilanti Township after finding her in the midst of a heroin overdose.
Troopers David Bluhm and Nolan Przybolo
Courtesy of MSP
Troopers Nolan Przybylo and David Bluhm were on a traffic stop at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday in the 800 block of Dorset Avenue in Ypsilanti Township’s West Willow neighborhood. Michigan State Police Sgt. Mark Thompson said a person interrupted the traffic stop and directed them to a woman who needed help in a nearby home.
When they arrived at the home, Przybolo and Bluhm discovered a woman lying on the floor, not breathing. The resident told the troopers she overdosed on heroin and Przybolo and Bluhm sprang into action.
Thompson said the troopers cleared the woman’s airway and began rescue breathing and contacted emergency medical personnel. Using their first-aid training, the troopers helped the woman for 10 minutes before Huron Valley Ambulance paramedics and Ypsilanti Township firefighters arrived.
“We’re pretty proud of them right now,” Thompson said Wednesday.
The woman was taken to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital for treatment, and Thompson said she’s expected to recover.
Przybylo and Bluhm were not available for comment about the incident Wednesday morning.
While it’s unusual for a traffic stop to take such a dramatic turn, Thompson said troopers are familiar with helping citizens in need of emergency medical attention.
“It happens on occasion,” he said.
Thompson said the rescue might be especially special for Bluhm, who is one of the Michigan State Police Brighton Post’s newest troopers. Thompson said Bluhm recently graduated from the Michigan State Police Training Academy.
“It’s probably a special thing for him,” Thompson said.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
RJA
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 11:14 p.m.
God Bless these Troopers
jns131
Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 2:35 p.m.
Amen. I just hope they do not find her again and this time it is the coroners job.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 11:05 p.m.
Might be some job security in that gig.
stevek
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 10:03 p.m.
Heroin in West Willow? I Don't believe it.
mady
Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 1:48 p.m.
believe it. this poison is everywhere, no one place is immune.
Angry Moderate
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 8:42 p.m.
Glad it worked out. Police and ambulances should carry naloxone to treat heroin and OxyContin overdoses.
Bulldog5
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 9:28 p.m.
I'm not sure if that is the name, but first responders do carry something that acts very quickly on heroin overdoses.
music to my ear
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 7:28 p.m.
well it was worth it to get ticket,even though it was the woman choice to do heroin , it was the right place at the right time. lets hope now that she has a new lease on life. she will go get some help to get off that powerful and as she seen firsthand deadly drug. great job officers I am sure her family is grateful for your help. I hope the person was not ticketed if it was a minor traffic stop.
blueWhiskey
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 7:18 p.m.
One of the many reasons getting more troopers on the trail was needed!!
mrk
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 7:04 p.m.
Kudos to the person who flagged down the officers and told them the truth.
treetowncartel
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 5:48 p.m.
Are they charging the the person who got it for her with attempted murder?
jns131
Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 9:59 p.m.
They can with alcohol but not with drugs. They can charge her for attempting suicide. Sad reality isn't it?
Basic Bob
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 6:55 p.m.
i hope not.
Youwhine
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 5:14 p.m.
Great work, Troopers! "Thompson said the rescue might be especially special for Bluhm, who is one of the Michigan State Police Brighton Post's newest troopers" -- I betcha I know who was doing rescue breaths and who was doing compressions...
blueWhiskey
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 7:17 p.m.
;). Heehee.
JRA
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 5:05 p.m.
Kudos to MSP! I truly hope this woman realizes how blessed she is and that she was given a second chance at life. Hopefully part of the care that she is receiving includes guidance on where she may be able to find help for her addiction. Best of luck to this woman, and I sincereley hope that she makes the best of this second chance. Addiction is a very, very tough thing to beat, from what I have seen.
B2Pilot
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 4:54 p.m.
Job well done!!! hopefully the victim sees the light & can change AND takes some time to thank these officers
nvragain
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 4:51 p.m.
I lost a friend in college to a heroin overdose while he was home in NJ for the holidays. I never knew he was using or had previously used. His friend from high school dropped him of at his parents house, his parents went to work the next day only to return to find their son not breathing and brain dead. Heroin, a horrible substance.
jns131
Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 2:34 p.m.
LSD I found out was a science experiment gone completely awry.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 4:48 p.m.
Lets hope this woman makes the most of her second chance.
jns131
Thu, Apr 11, 2013 : 2:33 p.m.
Look at Lindsay Lohan. She gets more chances then anyone I ever know and she keeps blowing it. I hate to say it, but this person is going to do it again. It is an addiction.
tdw
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 3:29 p.m.
Well, my reply and the original were comment were removed so I'll just make my reply a comment.Heroin addiction is a problem that every social class is experiencing these days
Jack Gladney
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 5:22 p.m.
@FreedomEagle There is no victim to blame.
tdw
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 4:56 p.m.
FreedomEagle......where on earth do you get that from ?
FreedomEagle
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 4:31 p.m.
please don't let this turn into a "blaming the victim" conversation
tdw
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 3:41 p.m.
Darn it.I got a extra " were " in there.I really wish A2.com would add a edit button
Jonathan Blutarsky
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 3:12 p.m.
Thank You Officer Przybylo and Bluhm!
TB
Wed, Apr 10, 2013 : 2:39 p.m.
So what happened to the traffic stop? Did that guy get a lucky break, or did the officers return afterwards to finish writing the ticket?