Airdrie Firefighters Ahead Of The Game

Although all firefighters in Alberta have just received greater access to lifesaving naloxone kits to fight the growing problem of fentanyl and other opioid overdoses, Airdrie's crews are already ahead of the game.

This week, the province expanded the naloxone program to allow all first responders to administer the drug by injection when they respond to a fentanyl overdose. According to Ken Hubbard, Airdrie's Deputy Chief of Training and Fire Prevention, Airdrie's fire crews have been carrying naloxone kits on their front line apparatus since December 2015.

"When the first ministerial order came out, our paramedics were able to administer naloxone.  Our firefighters are primary care or advanced care paramedics so they are already trained in the EMS field so the intra-muscular injection was basically a modular format of injection of that naloxone kit," says Hubbard.  "Part of the order that came out actually speaks to a lot of departments that don't have medically trained personnel in their first response agencies.  This gives them the ability to look at naloxone kits."

Although Hubbard doesn't have firm numbers that point to a growing problem in the city, he does say that Airdrie firefighters have responded to a number of overdose calls.

This week's order by the province gives firefighters an additional lifesaving tool when responding to an overdose call, according to Associate Minister of Health Brandy Payne.  

The fentanyl crisis in Alberta claimed 343 people's lives last year, compared to 257 in 2015.