'Fentanyl is a game changer for first responders'
Yk fire chief explains why organization is beefing up policies in response to rise of the dangerous opioid
Emelie Peacock
Northern News Services
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Yellowknife Fire Division is updating its fentanyl exposure policies and procedures nearly a year after a city RCMP officer was exposed to fentanyl at a crime scene.
David Hampson, first class firefighter, suited up in Tyvek disposable coveralls, nitrile gloves, a respirator and safety glasses. - Emelie Peacock/NNSL photo
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In November 2016, Yellowknife saw eight overdoses within a 48-hour period, all caused by a highly potent form of street fentanyl. During a search of one of the scenes, an RCMP officer was exposed to the opioid. RCMP Sgt. Dean Riou stated the member received immediate medical attention and has since recovered.
At the city's fire department, fire chief John Fredericks said this incident has been a game changer for first responders.
"You kind of go into panic mode," he said of the November overdoses. "So the discussion took right off."
The department is currently working on an updated fentanyl-specific overdose policy it plans to implement after a Sept. 12 meeting with its medical director. The policy would involve donning protective equipment any time fentanyl is suspected - a Tyveck gown or coveralls, nitrile gloves, respirator mask and safety glasses on top of the firefighters standard uniform.
Fredericks said the fire department often gets called to overdose calls and the current policies are set by its medical director. The duty officer of the day makes a decision about what equipment to don.
The fire department also carries hazmat suits to calls and takes direction from the RCMP on when to use the suits.
The firefighters Yellowknifer spoke to agreed that it is another risk in the work that they do, yet few said they feared for their safety.
"It's just part of the job actually," said senior firefighter Seann May. "It's out there, we need to recognize if we're dealing with a patient who has a fentanyl overdose and how to treat it."
This proactive attitude is also in response to a continuing rise of fentanyl in Alberta, with an increase in overdose deaths from 241 from January to June this year compared to 368 deaths for all of 2016.
"It's in Alberta so whatever is in Alberta usually makes its way to the NWT," said Fredericks.
According to Annie Delisle with the national RCMP, there have been four cases where members' reported symptoms related to exposure to fentanyl nationally.
The RCMP's operations manual contains a section on fentanyl and other opioid overdoses, it advises members to use 'extreme caution' as fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin. What type of protective equipment Yellowknife RCMP use depends on the situation. If the RCMP is going into a lab, hazmat suits will be used. In other cases it may be just nitril gloves.
Riou told Yellowknifer officers assess each situation they encounter individually, but RCMP must use nitril gloves at all times when fentanyl or other toxic substances are suspected, long-sleeve shirts and, depending on the level of risk, respirator and goggles.
When the risk is really high, a Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response (CLEAR) team is called in. The NWT is served by a CLEAR team operating out of Alberta.
In June, chief coroner Cathy Menard told Yellowknifer opioid-related overdose deaths were on the rise in the territory. Menard said there were four deaths in 2012, one in 2013, three in 2014, the same number in 2015 and five in 2016.
