THUNDER BAY - With the increasing use of opioids in the city, emergency crews are responding to more and more overdoses, and the life-saving treatment now carried by all first responders is making the difference between life and death.
Last year, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue began carrying naloxone kits on all fire trucks and according to fire chief, John Hay, it has been used in seven saves so far.
“We don’t use it as much as EMS may because our response time is quite good and our goal is to maintain respirations,” he said. “When that is not available, we use naloxone.”
Naloxone is a medication used to counter the effects of opioid drugs and can restore breathing during an overdose. It can be administered intravenously or as a nasal spray.
Thunder Bay Fire Rescue responds to calls involving difficulty breathing or unconscious patients along with Superior North EMS.
Hay said it is difficult to know the exact number of how many overdoses fire crews responded to in the last year but the numbers are definitely increasing.
“We would have to really drill down really hard to find out the exact number of overdoses,” he said. “Shortness of breath and trouble breathing could be represented by a number of issues. We would have to read every single report and tease that out.”
The priority for fire crews is maintaining respiration until EMS arrives, but in some cases, naloxone was administered.
“Respiration is important and keeping them breathing and when EMS show up and help us with the patient and get them off in the ambulance and to the hospital,” Hay said. “There have probably been many more saves through the EMS side and I think police have some officers who use naloxone.”
All firefighters are now trained in the use of naloxone through the medical program during training. Hay said all crews welcome the addition of the kits.
“It’s not a problem for them,” he said. “They are very happy to be able to provide that service if needed and have no hesitation using it within the protocols established within our medical directive.”
Naloxone kits are available at any pharmacy. They are free and pharmacy staff will provide training on how to use it properly.
Hay reminds the public that in an emergency situation to call 911.
