GROVELAND – A father-son team of corrections officers at Groveland Correctional Facility is credited with potentially saving the life of an inmate overdosing on heroin.
NYS Corrections Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) commended the actions of corrections officers (C.O.’s) Kenneth and Brandon Poddany actions in a press release.
“I am extremely proud of our two members from Groveland Correctional Facility and their quick and alert actions this past Friday,” said Joe Miano, Western Region Vice President of NYSCOPBA. “Certainly, the father and son tandem was instrumental in saving the life of the inmate. Brandon Poddany’s quick assessment of the medical emergency, and the life saving measures that he performed, are a perfect example of the type of training and dedication to the job that our members have.”
On Friday, Dec. 30, Officer Brandon Poddany, a four-year veteran of DOCCS, was working the day shift at the facility when he observed two inmates attempting to carry another inmate back into the cell block from the recreation yard.
The officer went and assessed the situation and realized the inmate was unconscious and foaming at the mouth. The officer instructed the two inmates to bring the sick inmate inside the cell block and lay him on the ground.
The inmates told the officer they believed the inmate had overdosed in the yard. The officer radioed in a medical emergency and began life saving measures on the inmate. The officer began CPR while awaiting medical personnel to arrive on the scene.
Medical staff arrived, along with Kenneth Poddany, Brandon’s father and a 28-year veteran of DOCCS. Officer Brandon Poddany continued chest compressions as Officer Kenneth Poddany readied the Automatic Electronic Defibrillator.
Brandon Poddany notified the medical staff that the inmate likely had overdosed on heroin. The medical staff administered three doses of Narcan to the inmate before he started breathing again.
After regaining consciousness, the medical staff had the inmate transferred to Wyoming County Community Hospital for further treatment and observation.