A White Rock man was confused to hear pounding on his door in the early morning hours of Nov. 19, 2020.

His befuddlement must have grown when he opened it to find several firefighters standing outside. They told the man they had been dispatched to the house because someone was in medical distress.

The resident was convinced they had the wrong address and told them so.

But the White Rock firefighters insisted they were at the right location and that someone inside needed their help.

The man, who was renting a basement suite in the house from a family member, allowed the firefighters inside to search the house, where they found a young man inside his bedroom, unconscious and barely breathing.

Curiously, nobody from the house had phoned for medical assistance, nor, for that matter, did they have any clue their family member had overdosed on fentanyl and was clinging to life.

Rowan Buffett 鈥� an alias for a man whose identity Peace Arch News has agreed not to reveal 鈥� is sharing his story of survival as a way to encourage others who use substances to download and use the Lifeguard phone application.

Lifeguard uses GPS tracking and user-input information to alert firefighters and paramedics when someone appears to be overdosing. The app asks the user to input their name, location, and what substance they鈥檙e using. The app then kick-starts a timer that finishes with an alarm. If the user doesn鈥檛 stop the alarm, paramedics are dispatched to the location.

Buffett, who鈥檚 in his 20s, says he is alive because of the app, which has saved him not once, but twice.

On that November day, Buffett smoked fentanyl as a way to self-medicate because of severe pain in his leg. Although he鈥檇 had negative experiences with fentanyl in the past, it was one of the few drugs he could get his hands on that would give him comfort.

After smoking, he blacked out. The next thing he remembers, he told PAN, was waking up in the hallway surrounded by five firefighters.

鈥淚t didn鈥檛 take long until I realized what happened,鈥� Buffett said. 鈥淚 talked to (the firefighters) and I think they were kind of aware the app called them, but they had never had that happen before.鈥�

Paramedics arrived on scene shortly after, and first responders saved Buffett鈥檚 life by administering Naloxone. He was taken to hospital as a precaution.

鈥淚t was much more traumatic for (my family) at the time. I just woke up and everything鈥檚 fine for me, but they experienced the whole thing,鈥� Buffett said.

RELATED: 鈥�

A few months later, it happened again.

On Jan. 9, firefighters and paramedics received a similar call to the same address. This time, Buffett wasn鈥檛 breathing. Again, his family had no idea he was in medical distress.

鈥淏ecause it was late at night and early in the morning, if I didn鈥檛 have the app, I鈥檓 pretty much positive I wouldn鈥檛 have survived,鈥� Buffett said.

The app, which was launched in May 2020, was recommended to Buffett by Sources manager of substance use services George Passmore.

When the app was brought to Buffett鈥檚 attention, he said he didn鈥檛 intend to use it.

鈥淚 just thought this maybe will come in handy or I will be able to show somebody else. It just seemed like a good idea for an app, I guess,鈥� Buffett said.

His second overdose was the push Buffett needed to seek treatment.

鈥淪omebody said at one point, the app could have not worked. And after the second time, it鈥檚 just getting a bit ridiculous. I can鈥檛 keep doing that because it鈥檚 so dangerous,鈥� he said.

鈥淚鈥檝e been good since then.鈥�

The drug overdose crisis killed 1,716 people B.C. in 2020, making it the deadliest year of the overdose crisis in the province. Some of the deceased were close friends of Buffett.

Buffett said he鈥檚 willing to share his story as a way to encourage people to use the app, or to share details about the app with a friend or family member who uses substances.

鈥淚 used it every single time. It wasn鈥檛 much of a burden,鈥� Buffett said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a small inconvenience for the possible good that it does. I hope people will realize that.鈥�

White Rock fire Chief Ed Wolfe told PAN that calls from the app go directly to dispatch. The information about the call is not provided to police.

In Buffett鈥檚 case, someone was available to open the door for firefighters and paramedics. If they were to encounter a locked door, Wolfe said firefighters have authority to enter by other means.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very valuable. It鈥檚 essentially a life-saving piece,鈥� Wolfe said of the app.

Buffett鈥檚 story drew an emotional response from Lifeguard founder Jeff Hardy, who also lives in White Rock.

鈥淗onestly, I鈥檓 going to cry,鈥� Hardy said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 exactly what it was made for, exactly. I鈥檓 proud, honoured, and I鈥檓 happy that the gentleman is alive and is in treatment. I couldn鈥檛 be happier to hear that鈥�. and it鈥檚 a White Rock guy.鈥�

Hardy said Buffett鈥檚 story is an 鈥渦nbelievable testimonial鈥� for the app.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the best one we have, to be honest with you.鈥�

According to BC Emergency Health Services, as of Feb. 28 there have been a total of 3,705 unique Lifeguard app users, and 30,113 all-time sessions. To date, Lifeguard usage has prompted 60 emergency responder calls and 14 overdose reversals.

No deaths have occurred during the use of Lifeguard.

Told of Buffett鈥檚 story, BCEHS senior provincial executive director and head of dispatch operations Neil Lilley, who assisted in developing the Lifeguard app, said he was at a loss for words.

鈥淚鈥檒l be honest, the hairs are standing on the back of my neck,鈥� Lilley said. 鈥淭o get that feedback from you, and to know that not only did it save somebody鈥檚 life on two occasions, but that it鈥檚 given the encouragement to get some treatment as well, it鈥檚 just amazing,鈥� Lilley said.

More than three years ago, Lilley was approached by Hardy about the app. Since then, Lilley has been working with Lifeguard, which is directly connected into BCEHS 911 system, and is an executive sponsor of the project.

鈥淚 just want everybody that uses drugs alone to realize that it鈥檚 not safe. Anything can happen to them. (If) they download the Lifeguard application and have it on their phone, they have a chance of survival,鈥� Lilley said.

Information about the Lifeguard app and how to download it can be found at

People who are seeking substance use treatment can contact Sources at 604-538-2522 or email susservices@sourcesbc.ca. People can also contact White Rock Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) clinic at 604-541-6844.

aaron.hinks@peacearchnews.com
Like us on and follow us on