Brandon Champion
MLive.com
NEGAUNEE, Mich. — The Michigan State Police has recognized a trooper who saved a woman who was overdosing during a traffic stop for speeding.
Trooper Joseph Ballone of the MSP’s Negaunee Post received the department’s Lifesaving Award for his actions during the March 5 incident in which he performed CPR and administered Narcan to the woman, who was unresponsive when he returned to the vehicle after checking her driver and vehicle IDs.
“The Negaunee Post wishes to celebrate Trooper Ballone’s recognition and congratulate him for successful actions he took to preserve the life of one of our citizens,” a police statement said.
Upon finding her slouched over, Ballone made several quick decisions that ultimately saved her life including calling for emergency medical services, checking her vitals to determine a fading pulse and using AED pads.
When the AED pads were ineffective, he began CPR. During this time, the driver’s employer called her phone and advised Ballone that the driver had abused opioids in the past and may have recently relapsed.
The new information prompted Ballone to use Narcan. Continued CPR by the trooper and EMS that arrived on scene eventually revived the woman. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment and made a full recovery.
“If not for Trooper Ballone’s extraordinary actions, the driver would not have survived,” a police statement said.