A mother and her unborn child are still alive due to the quick actions of California Police Department Capt. Ralph Parris.
The City of California Board of Alderman honored Parris during its monthly meeting on Wednesday after California Police Chief Daniel Hurt informed members of the captain's actions, saving the life of a pregnant woman from a heroin overdose.
Hurt summarized Parris' quick thinking. He said the captain was dispatched to a set of apartments in California for a possible overdose. When he arrived, Parris found the door to the apartment was already open and heard crying inside. He saw a young woman rubbing the sternum of another young woman. After a friend of the woman who overdosed informed Parris of the substance she had taken, he acted fast.
"With training and experience, Capt. Parris immediately administered a dose of Narcan to her left nostril. Captain Parris was about to administer a second dose. By that time, the female awakened and began to breathe normally, and a second dose was not needed," Hurt said. "Capt. Parris remained with her and directed her how to breathe. Mid-Mo Ambulance District paramedics arrived shortly after and administered oxygen."
"While working for the California Police Department, Capt. Parris saved several other lives by administering Narcan. He said his quick thinking and ability to determine when Narcan use is needed saved multiple lives. For this, we'd like to recognize Capt. Parris for his life-saving skills," Hurt continued. "That very night...Capt. Parris didn't save just one life but two because the young female was pregnant with a child. We want to say thanks to Capt. Parris for his ability to save lives in our community."
Mayor Lanny Ash bestowed a certificate from the city to Parris acknowledging his ability to quickly discern the appropriate actions for a civilian in distress, "saving not only one life but two in the line of duty."
In other business:The city approved a $105,253.40 payment to Gene Haile Excavating for the North Plaza Water and Sewer Extension.
The city approved a $67,500 payment to Gene Haile Excavating for the Windmill Ridge Booster Pump Station.
The city approved a bid from A&D Construction for $9,772 for the Proctor Park Lake Dredging project.
The city reappointed Joe Coffelt as city collector.
Residential trash pickup is to increase by 3 percent (63 cents) on Aug. 1.