Revelstoke Fire Rescue Service’s First Responders have received training in the administration of Naloxone, a medication used in treating opioid drug overdoses.
Opioids are the family of drugs that include such things as heroin and fentanyl. According to BC Emergency Health Services, there were 415 deaths in 2016 from opioids, many being related to fentanyl. Overdoses such as these are in the news of late and BCEHS describes the problem as reaching epidemic levels. None of the fentanyl deaths have occurred in Revelstoke and the local RCMP say they have not yet seized any in the city.
RFRS said in a statement that it recently cleared the final-approval hurdle and is now able to administer Naloxone as part of their medical-overdose protocols. Naloxone is injected in the large muscle of the upper arm or thigh when respiration shuts down as a result of the opioid overdose. The public is reminded that it is no substitute for effective CPR and treatment usually has to be done in conjunction with artificial respiration.
“RFRS looks forward to adding this to the list of emergency services they provide to Revelstoke residents and looks forward to delivering this treatment in partnership with the RCMP and the BC Ambulance Service,” the statement said.
