Pubdate: Tue, 09 Feb 2016
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Michael Mui
Page: 7

MORE FIREFIGHTERS TO CARRY OPIOID-REVERSING NALOXONE

Richmond firefighters are planning to start carrying two doses of
naloxone on each fire engine after changes were made to allow
non-medical personnel to administer the opioid-reversing drug.

The move comes after a late-January change by the Ministry of Health
that allowed fire rescue first responders to start administering
naloxone-which can be used to reverse the effects of drugs like
heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl and methadone.

"Richmond Fire-Rescue would carry two doses in each of the emergency
response vehicles totalling 20 doses, with an additional 10 doses
being kept as a reserve supply," said acting fire chief Tim Wilkinson
in a report to council.

The changes are expected to cost an additional $2,000 per
year.

Firefighters in Surrey and Vancouver are already being trained to give
the life-saving drug as part of the initial rollout, as the majority
of overdoses in B.C. occur in those two cities.

"The initial rollout of the program will likely be in the cities that
are most impacted and implemented through their fire departments ...
in the future, the program may also be considered for police
officers," Wilkinson wrote.
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MAP posted-by: Matt