St. John Amblance Branch Chair Tony Alberts (left) presented Constable Laurel Hopkins of Saugeen Shores Police Services with the 2018 Provincial St. John Ambulance Award in council chambers November 12 after she saved two lives from an opioid overdose by administering Naloxone. Next to Hopkins is Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith and Saugeen Shores Police Chief Mike Bellai.
Hub Staff
Saugeen Shores Police Constable Laurel Hopkins received the 2018 Provincial St. John Ambulance Award in council chambers November 12 after she saved two lives while on duty. “It really just boils down to just doing my job,” said Constable Hopkins who put her training to the test when she administered Naloxone, saving two lives from an opioid overdose in February and June of this year.
Hopkins was surrounded by family, friends and colleagues who joined council in giving her a standing ovation when St John Ambulance Branch Chair Tony Alberts presented her with the Silver Level Award. “Without the first aid knowledge and actions taken by Constable Hopkins these individuals would have not survived,” said Alberts.
Hopkins, who has been part of the Saugeen Shores Police Service since April 2017, said it felt good to be successful in saving a life. “I get to go home at night knowing that I did my job to the best that I could," she said.
The officer was reserved in her acceptance of the award and recognition and said it came as a surprise "but I enjoyed it."
Saugeen Shores Police Chief Mike Bellai submitted Constable Hopkins' name for the award.
“Laurel is incredibly humble today,” said the Chief. “You know, she did save two lives, and that is essentially why I did put that in," he said.
Bellai said he is incredibly proud of the Saugeen Shores officers. "We constantly go about our business every day we do what we do and move on so I think it’s important that we recognize our officers for what they do day in and day out," he said and credited Hopkins' "quick thinking" that resulted in two lives being saved.
In late 2017 Saugeen Shores officers became equipped with Naloxone. If Naloxone is given to someone under the effects of an opioid overdose, it can be reversed. There have been a total of three incidents where officers have administered Naloxone in Saugeen Shores.
