Felipe Sepulveda, Director of Social Services at Barrier Free Living’s (BFL) Transitional Housing program, was among those honored at the first ever Lifesaver Awards Ceremony in New York City on October 5.

The awards, held by the Department of Health, honored 67 people who saved a collective 255 lives with the overdose-reversing drug naloxone.  First Lady Chirlane McCray and Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett attended the ceremony.

Felipe, who trained earlier in the year on how to administer the life-saving naloxone, acted quickly on the September evening when a resident in a wheelchair was in distress at BFL’s transitional housing program.

“I really focused and did what needed to be done,” said Sepulveda.

He added that to stay calm, he drew on his past experience as an Emergency Medical Technician working in  New York City’s Emergency Medical Services system.

The Health Department has given out more than 45,000 naloxone kits so far this year. The drug can be found over the counter in many pharmacies for free with insurance or at a low cost, and can also be obtained at training sessions held by DOH or other groups.