Lane County celebrates Brittany Palluck, who stopped to save a life
8 min read
Presenter: During employee recognition July 8, commissioners heard about a Lane County hero. Here’s County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky:
Steve Mokrohisky (Lane County, administrator): For those of you that don’t know, Brittany Palluck is a community service worker with our Human Services Division, Coordinated Entry Program, and she saved a life this spring.
She was driving to a provider’s office and stopped on the side of the road after seeing a crowd gathered around someone. So not really knowing what was happening, maybe, in that moment. Looks like the person was in distress. The person ended up, that the person was bluish and there were indications of an overdose.
[00:00:39] So Brittany grabbed her Narcan packs that she had with her, leapt out of the car, and proceeded to administer five doses of Narcan to this individual. She had two packs of Narcan with her, and then others on the scene also had Narcan. So this is a side note, you know, really good that folks carry Narcan with them, because in this case it took five doses. So eventually the person recovered, began walking, and was engaged by EMTs.
[00:01:15] But if Brittany would have just kept driving, right, and said, ‘Well, that’s not really,’ you know, ‘I’m busy, I have to get to my…’, ‘It’s not for me, other people are helping out, I’m sure it’ll be fine,’ which is oftentimes a human tendency to go, ‘Well, other people are taking care of that.’ But whatever reason Brittany was compelled to stop, I think we would argue because she has a passion to serve and that’s why we’re recognizing Brittany here today.
[00:01:48] Presenter: Brittany Palluck:
[00:01:49] Brittany Palluck (Lane County): I’m more of a crisis worker than I am a public speaker, but I did write this and I’m going to give it a go.
[00:01:58] I am here today not just to talk about Narcan. I am here today because somebody is alive today because of it.
Narcan or naloxone is a lifesaving medication that reverses opiate overdoses. It works within minutes. It is easy to use, cannot cause harm, and has no abuse potential. It doesn’t encourage drug use. It prevents death.
[00:02:16] I have personally used Narcan to save someone’s life, not only once, but multiple times. The most recent situation I found this community member unresponsive, barely breathing, gray. I administered Narcan, but this time it was a little different. It took multiple doses before this person started breathing again. That moment changed everything for me. Without access to Narcan, this person would have not survived.
[00:02:42] I want to say how thankful I am here being recognized and appreciate immensely, but I want to take a moment and to recognize the other man that stood right next to me helping me the entire time, another unhoused person. He did not run away when he knew 911 was being called. He did not give up trying to wake up this person. He stood strong, brave, and selfless. So in this moment and in this space, I would like him to be acknowledged as well.
[00:03:06] Opiate overdoses are happening in every part of our community: rural, urban, young, old. Narcan gives people a second chance, and with more access, more education, less stigma, we can save lives. Thank you for listening, thank you for caring, and thank you so much for giving me a couple minutes to explain how important this is to me.
[00:03:29] Presenter: Human Services Division Manager Kate Budd:
[00:03:32] Kate Budd (Lane County, Human Services Division, manager): I just want to reiterate that Brittany is indeed a hero. And I want to really recognize that, because I know it’s not a title that she readily accepts. But for someone to stop, interrupt their day, recognize that there was a crisis, seek out how she might be able to help, and then leap into action is incredible.
[00:03:54] And so Brittany, really, really fortunate that you’re a member of the HSD team and that you were willing to help this person, even if it might have been uncomfortable, even if it may have not been a typical choice. So thank you for that.
[00:04:10] Presenter: Lane County Health and Human Services Director Eve Gray:
[00:04:15] Eve Gray (Lane County Health and Human Services, director): Brittany, what you did is an incredible example of how we can all be members within our community who save each other’s lives. And this example that you displayed in taking the Narcan that you had on you and administering it is probably the reason that this person is still walking and talking today.
[00:04:40] And of course, I will go to the bigger policy pieces as well, and think about how was it that Brittany ended up with two doses of Narcan on her, and this has to do—so we’ll be talking to you a lot over the coming months about how policy influences health, and this is a beautiful example of that.
[00:05:03] So Commissioner (Laurie) Trieger is on the state opioid board for the settlement funds. And that board has allocated some additional funding for harm reduction programs, including access to Narcan in communities. We then recognized the need in Health and Human Services to have access to Narcan in more areas than just our health centers.
[00:05:29] And Kate (Budd), along with her staff, took on the project of getting a policy in place, getting training in place for staff, assuring that our public health officer was really comfortable with all the protocols, and then we were able to access the harm reduction clearinghouse at the state in order to get doses of Narcan, which ended up saving a life.
[00:05:55] So this is, again, just a really clear link between how we create policy and the impact that that can have on the ground level. So I like to draw those connections whenever possible as well. This was an individual act of heroism made possible through good policy.
[00:06:17] Presenter: Commissioner Pat Farr:
[00:06:19] Commissioner Pat Farr: You know, Brittany, many of us wonder what we’re going to do when the occasion arises for us to step forward and potentially save a life, be a hero, step in the way, whatever it may be. You can look back and say, ‘This is what I did.’ You know, most people, the vast preponderance of us do not get to do that, do not have an opportunity. You took your opportunity, you saved a life. You know, the ripples out from your action will go on forever. So, remarkably well done.
[00:06:44] You know, you swim in a sea of outstanding individuals. You’ve got some sitting right next to you, you’ve got some sitting in the back of the room. Everybody you work with is outstanding. Everybody you work with is a hero. You rise, you rose for your entire department, all of Lane County, above that, and you exemplified what we all wish we could be, what we all hope we will be. Thank you for being that.
[00:07:05] Presenter: Commissioner Ryan Ceniga:
[00:07:07] Commissioner Ryan Ceniga: Well, thanks, Brittany. I think you have seen how appreciative everybody here is for what you did. It’s one thing to be standing around or stop and see what’s going on, but it’s another thing to jump in and take action, and you did and you saved a life. So thank you from all of us. Appreciate it.
[00:07:25] Presenter: Commissioner Heather Buch:
[00:07:26] Commissioner Heather Buch: Thank you, Brittany. It’s actually great to hear all of you kind of explain not only the situation that you experienced at hand. I have some kind of feeling that your instinct just kicked in, and that’s what led down the road of saving a life.
But it’s also really fascinating to see the connection of policy to the point where you were able to have the Narcan on you and actually administer it, and administer it properly. I’m so proud of you and proud of the work that you do for Lane County. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
[00:08:10] Presenter: Commissioner Laurie Trieger:
[00:08:11] Commissioner Laurie Trieger: Thank you, Brittany. Thank you, Director Gray, for bringing policy into the conversation always and forever, you’re right.
[00:08:18] Brittany, I want to thank you not only on behalf of that person, but we don’t know the countless other people who are grateful that that person is still alive and has a chance to continue on with whatever those relationships are.
[00:08:34] I don’t know if you were able to find anything out about them or have any follow-up, but for all we know, right, that person has children, that person has family, that person has people that they work with that rely on them. So it’s not just that act with that one person that you helped save, but it’s that network of connection and also modeling for others how Narcan really works and how carrying it and how just how much possibility and how many chances people deserve.
[00:09:07] And you gave that person another chance that they deserved. And without you, that probably wouldn’t have happened. That is an incredibly important thing to have done.
[00:09:16] And I’m just, I’m grateful that time and place that put you in that place, in that moment, and it’s just such a reminder of how much suffering there is all around us. So thank you for the coincidence of it all, but also the really strong intention and values and commitment that you displayed to helping that person. Thank you.
[00:09:39] Presenter: Commissioner David Loveall:
[00:09:41] Commissioner David Loveall: There’s that momentary half-second that you have to decide and that is what separates the people that want to serve and save to the people that just move along and leave that to others.
[00:09:53] So I want to thank you for that spirit in you that made that decision in such a routine and in-the-moment kind of way. And you know, the place that I find inspiration, there’s a quote that says: ‘There’s no greater love for humanity than one who gives life for a friend.’ And so I just want to tell you that when you consider, like, what you do, all people are friends, friends that are in need. You will naturally do for someone in need something they can’t naturally repay.
[00:10:17] And so I think that is the best quality that I see about this whole situation, so, I know that’s going to continue and I know that you’re the type of person that will empower that in other people’s lives too. And that’s what I think is most important for today, So thank you for allowing us to lay accolades upon you and to take with them what you’re going to do in the future with them and to teach others. So I appreciate you very much. Thank you.
[00:10:37] Presenter: Lane County’s policy work and a passion for service combined to put Narcan and Brittany Palluck in position to save another life. Brittany in turn asked for recognition for a homeless person helping at the scene.
Learn where to buy Narcan: https://narcan.com/en/buy.
