EMT Revives Knicks Fan With Narcan as FDA Expands Access to the Medication

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 18: Fans cheer for the New York Knicks as a float with Karl-Anthony Towns and teammates pass by during the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) An off-duty EMT saved a man’s life with Narcan during an apparent overdose at the NY Knicks championship parade. The incident highlights the need for quick action with a naloxone medication during an opioid emergency. The FDA recently approved another OTC naloxone, further broadening access to this lifesaving medication. The New York Knicks championship parade drew an estimated 2 million fans to Lower Manhattan on June 18 in celebration of the team’s first NBA title in 53 years. While the gathering was largely festive, it was not without incident. Simone Kelly, 24, a volunteer emergency medical technician, was off-duty when she and another anonymous first responder used Narcan to revive a man who had apparently overdosed, according to the New York Post, which was first on the scene. The heroic act amidst a throng of bystanders quickly went viral, highlighting the need for a fast response to opioid overdoses with naloxone-based medications. Kelly said that “anyone can learn” how to step in during an opioid emergency. Here’s what you need to know about naloxone, and why it’s more accessible than ever. FDA broadens access to naloxone Narcan, an over-the-counter nasal spray, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023 to rapidly reverse opioid overdoses. On June 16, the FDA further expanded access to this lifesaving medication with another intranasal naloxone product, Rextovy, to help reduce opioid-related deaths in the United States. The FDA states that while overdose deaths have dropped dramatically since Narcan’s approval, the prob