A desperate midnight overdose call in Scioto County nearly turned into a confrontation after a frustrated caller threatened violence over the wait for an ambulance — even though first responders were already on their way.
Midnight Emergency Turns Tense
Just after 12:00 a.m., a man dialed 911 to report he’d found a woman unresponsive in the bathtub and not breathing, possibly from an overdose.
He told dispatchers he couldn’t get her out of the tub by himself.
- Local EMS was paged immediately, and medics confirmed within three minutes that they were en route.
- But the wait felt endless to the caller, who phoned 911 again at 12:18 a.m., angrily threatening to “start hunting people” if the squad didn’t arrive soon.
- Dispatch immediately alerted deputies to the escalating situation.
A Close Call — and a Second Chance
By the time deputies arrived around 12:30 a.m., EMS was already on scene.
- Medics reported the woman had regained consciousness, was awake and alert, and refused to go to the hospital.
- First responders left Narcan at the scene so the family could use it if she became unresponsive again.
Deputies said no arrests were made, but the incident shows just how tense — and dangerous — overdose calls can become.
When Seconds Feel Like Hours
First responders say emotions often run high in overdose situations, where fear and panic can make people lash out.
- 🚨 Stay calm and stay on the line with dispatchers. They can walk you through CPR or Narcan use while help is coming.
- ⏱️ Don’t threaten or hang up — every threat diverts resources and can slow down response.
- 💉 Keep Narcan on hand if you know someone who struggles with addiction — it can save a life in seconds.
The Takeaway
This time, the story ended with a life saved, not lost. But the chaotic moments leading up to it show how quickly fear can turn to anger when seconds count.
👉 When every heartbeat matters, first responders say the best thing to do isn’t to “hunt” — it’s to hold on, stay calm, and let them do their job.