Sasha Heyneman initially mistook the young woman lying in the lawn of a rehabilitation center on a cold Thursday evening for a Halloween decoration that had fallen from a tree.
Note: This story was originally published in the Idaho State Journal.
It was after 10 p.m. when Heyneman, 29, and her partner, Arthur, drove to her parents’ house to pick up her dog Washburn. On their return journey, as they passed the rehabilitation center at 5230 W. Moonlight Mine Road, Heyneman saw the figure’s bare arm in the lawn.
The fourth-year pharmacy student at Idaho State University then dropped out and put her medical training to work, almost certainly saving the life of someone who was taking an opioid overdose.
Heyneman asked Arthur to stay in the car with the window down, believing that a man’s voice might scare the woman. Although the temperature was about 35 degrees, the woman was dressed only in trousers and a T-shirt. She didn’t react or shiver, which worried Heyneman.
“I was cold enough to shiver and I was wearing a jacket,” Heyneman said. “She must have been so cold out there.”
Heyneman initially spoke softly to the young woman. Then she turned up the volume to a scream, trying to get the young woman’s attention. Still there was no response.
Heyneman ran to the door of the rehabilitation center, where she could hear the TV inside. A licensed nursing assistant opened the door. The CNA and another member of the household came out to investigate and confirmed that the young woman was not a resident.
Some residents helped the woman walk in. She stumbled and her eyes fell asleep.
“With my training, I recognized that it could be a possible opioid overdose,” Heyneman said.
She instructed the residents to find their first aid kit and bring her some Narcan – a drug used in the treatment of opioid overdoses. When some residents hesitated, Heyneman explained that administering Narcan would pose no additional risk if she was wrong in her assessment of opioid overdose.
The CNA administered the nasal spray Narcan. Heyneman said the CNA remained calm and well prepared for the situation. Within about 30 seconds, the young woman regained her coherence and answered some basic questions. The residents called 112.
Heyneman has worked as an intern at Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg. Earlier that day, Heyneman was called to make an emergency IV at the hospital. She was so nervous that her hands were shaking. She felt calm and, however, did not hesitate during the entire ordeal with the young woman.
Officials from the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office have confirmed that the investigation into the young woman’s situation has been closed. Sheriff Tony Manu credited Heyneman with her composed thinking.
“I think it’s quite a heads up for her. She clearly knew what to do,’ said Manu.
The sheriff added that opioid overdoses are “increasing”.
Heyneman’s mother, Catherine Cashmore, is extremely proud of her daughter and considers it fortunate that she chose that moment to pick up Washburn.
“How many people would have quit? She stopped and went out and checked,” Cashmore said. “There just aren’t that many people who would do that.”