Lake County Correctional Officers Daniel Pennington, David Juarez and Mark Gaines (left to right). | Provided Photo.

Three correctional officers are being hailed for saving an inmate who suffered a drug overdose and became unresponsive at the Lake County Jail, the sheriff’s office said.

Lake County Correctional Officers David Juarez and Daniel Pennington were conducting rounds in the Community-Based Correctional Center Wednesday evening.

Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Lt. Christopher Covelli said the two discovered a 23-year-old inmate on the floor in the shower while they were conducting rounds.

The inmate was unresponsive and had very shallow breathing. After assessing the inmate, they believed he was suffering from some type of drug overdose.

Officers Juarez and Pennington immediately called for Naloxone to be brought to their location, Covelli said.

Correctional Officer Mark Gaines responded with Naloxone and provided the inmate a nasal dose.

After receiving the Naloxone, the inmate regained consciousness. He was transported to an area hospital by ambulance for a medical evaluation.

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Further investigation revealed the inmate ingested opioids just prior to returning to the Community-Based Correctional Center after work, Covelli said.

When he returned, he entered the shower where he began suffering overdose symptoms and collapsed.

The Community-Based Correctional Center is a section of the jail utilized to house inmates assigned to periodic imprisonment, often referred to as “work release.”

It is an area where inmates have been sentenced but under the conditions of their sentence, they are allowed to leave for work, job appointments, medical appointments and other qualifying events.

Inmates must return to the Community-Based Correctional Center upon the conclusion of work or their appointment.

“It is always a top priority to treat those in our custody with dignity and respect. The quick life-saving actions by Correctional Officers Juarez, Pennington, and Gaines perfectly highlight this philosophy and I am extremely proud of them for saving the life of an inmate,” Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said.

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