Fort Wayne Firefighters are getting the nasal version of this lifesaving drug (PunchingJudy/Flickr Creative Commons)

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): The Fort Wayne Fire Department has some new tools to save lives.

Mayor Tom Henry announced Monday that firefighters will have Narcan on them when responding to possible heroin overdoses. Fire Chief Eric Lahey tells WOWO News that firefighters have saved four lives already thanks to Narcan. “We're not doing it intravenously, we're doing it through the nasal passages. So to be able to atomize that Narcan and get it in the system as soon as possible is a big deal, and we've seen great success so far.”

Instead of needing about 8 minutes to get Narcan in an overdose patient's system, having Narcan on hand in nasal form means that someone suffering a heroin overdose can get Narcan in their system in about a minute, according to Lahey. Lahey says each dose costs the department $5 and they always have two on hand when heading out to overdose calls.

Kosciusko County officers recently underwent training to administer Narcan as well. 

In addition, Sweetwater has donated over 40 metronomes that will help Fort Wayne firefighters deliver CPR in a health emergency. 

Surack told WOWO news he's amazed that he was asked to contribute. “A simple little product that goes 'click, click, click' can be used, along with CPR, to make sure those compressions are accurately timed. And could save someone's life. It could be a father, a brother, a mother…I'm just overwhelmed by the ability to help somebody.”