There is now a new requirement for all lifeguards in Monroe County that is designed to help fight the ongoing opioid crisis.

“Last summer, we had a very unfortunate incident where a woman came over here with a young child and she overdosed, said Monroe County Parks Director, Larry Staub.

Lifeguards recently rescued a 22-year-old man with Narcan after he overdosed at Ontario Beach Park in Rochester. 

“I`ve never had a man not breathing in front of me, which is something that makes the job very real," said 19-year-old lifeguard Rebecca Audi. "The man had blue lips. He was a little bit pale in the face and so we checked for breathing and a pulse.” 

Thanks to Rebecca and a team of lifeguards, the man was administered Narcan and survived.

“I know Narcan saved his life,” said Audi.

Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Michael Mendoza has been the lead instructor in the new Narcan training classes. 

“It`s a sign of our times. It`s not a traditional administration of a lifeguard to be able to do that but sadly we had that situation last summer open our eyes to it,” said Staub.