Searcy school nurse honored for saving student’s life

SEARCY, AR – A school nurse in Searcy is being recognized for saving the life of one of her students.

Registered nurse Amy Dutton was honored at last week’s school board meeting and hailed as a hero.

Dutton said she was just doing her job as part of what started out as a typical day.

“I have kids that come in that get scheduled medications. I have kids that come in for headaches, stomach aches,” Dutton said.

Within minutes, everything changed when Dutton said a student came into her office claiming she wasn’t feeling well. Dutton said the student admitted to taking a THC gummy.

“She became pretty much non-responsive, lethargic, and was falling out of her chair,” Dutton stated. “High blood pressure, high heart rate, and then all of sudden that plummets.”

It’s a moment Dutton says she’s trained for.

“It’s one of my kids, I’ve got to help them in any way I can,” Dutton said.

Dutton said the teenager appeared to be overdosing, so she administered Narcan, saving her life and keeping her stable until EMS arrived.

“It’s become more problematic, I would say just across the world, probably within the last 5 years,” Dutton’s supervisor registered nurse Tammy Bishop said.

Bishop said the Opioid Epidemic is impacting some of our youngest.

“It’s just the tip of the pencil lead is all that takes to be mixed in there and kill somebody,” Bishop stated.

Dutton said she thanks her lucky stars she had a kit that day, knowing now she’ll be able to see the student pass by in the halls once again.

“We’re not just passing out Tylenol and putting Band-Aids on boo boos. We’re saving lives,” Dutton stated.

Searcy School District is one of many in the state that requires Narcan kits on high school campuses.

Even if you are unsure if the person is overdosing, Narcan is still safe to administer so it’s good to carry just in case. You can get one at your pharmacy, no prescription is required.

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