North Central Bronx Hospital Police Sergeant Saves Overdose Victim in Parking Lot

North Central Bronx Hospital Police Sergeant Saves Overdose Victim in Parking Lot

Quick thinking and administering Narcan pull patient back from the brink

Jul 06, 2026

A routine parking lot patrol turned into a life-saving mission at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx, when Hospital Police Sergeant Saira Flores administered Narcan to a patient who had overdosed and helped coordinate a rapid medical response that saved the man's life.

Sgt. Flores, who has served at North Central Bronx Hospital for eight years, was conducting her perimeter patrol when a driver attempted to enter the ambulance bay from the wrong direction. As she redirected him, the driver frantically signaled from his window.

"He said that his friend was overdosing and that he wasn't responsive," Flores recalled. "I ran with him, opened the car door, and the man didn't seem to be breathing."

What she saw next sharpened the urgency. "While he's pulling into the ambulance bay, I saw that he was convulsing - his eyes were rolling back, and he was going back and forth in the car," she said. "Once I saw that he was convulsing and foam was coming out of his mouth, that was a bit scary."

Flores immediately asked what the patient had taken, retrieved her department-issued Narcan, and administered the first dose nasally. She simultaneously radioed the ER to dispatch medical staff.

"You spray once, and you wait to see if the person comes to," she explained. "Once I saw that in the time I waited, he still wasn't responding, I administered it again."

Medical staff, including the Director of Nursing, Emergency Department Carlene McLeish, arrived swiftly. Flores briefed them on the two doses administered, and the patient was transferred to the Emergency Department. He later regained consciousness.

"The response of the staff was very, very quick," Flores said. "There was no need to keep applying Narcan because they got there fast and were able to take over."

Narcan administration is standard training for North Central Bronx Hospital Police. "We are trained to render aid when necessary," Flores noted. "Applying Narcan - it's part of the training."

"Sergeant Flores turned a routine patrol into a lifesaving mission, reminding us that in moments of crisis, one act of courage can change everything," said Jose Nunez, Assistant Chief of Hospital Police, North Central Bronx Hospital.

"Sgt. Flores's decisive action is an example of the high standard of care North Central Bronx Hospital Police officers bring to this community every day," said Alfredo Jones, Chief Operating Officer, North Central Bronx Hospital. "In a matter of seconds, she recognized a life-threatening emergency, applied her training, and gave a patient the chance to survive this incident. We are proud of her many years of dedicated service and grateful that she was on patrol at exactly the right moment."

During her eight years at the hospital, Sgt. Flores has received several awards during Police Week celebrations.

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Contact: Rawle Titus, NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx, 332-259-2512

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About NYC Health + Hospitals/JacobiNYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The facility has earned numerous Center of Excellence designations, accreditation, and recognition for its renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Center, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke Center, Snakebite Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, Bariatric Surgery Center, and Cancer Service. The facility also offers the region's only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, allowing up to nine patients to dive together at one time. Jacobi's Ambulatory Care Pavilion is a stunning complement to its inpatient acute care, allowing staff to provide patients with high-quality service in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/jacobi/.

About NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central BronxNYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx is a member facility of the New York City Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, North Central Bronx Hospital specializes in women's and children's services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. Its Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 1,000 babies into the world each year. North Central Bronx is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need. For more information visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/north-central-bronx/.

About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus Health -all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.