With overdoses and fatalities stemming from fentanyl use reaching epidemic proportions, the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) recently launched a fentanyl website for first responders. JIBC hosted two workshops for first responders on fentanyl earlier this year. The sessions were so well received organizers decided an online educational resource was needed to provide essential information about fentanyl to as many first responders as possible. The website (https://fentanylsafety.com) is the result.
"First responders are currently adapting to the danger that fentanyl presents to their personal safety," said Steve Schnitzer, director of the JIBC Police Academy.
"The first step is improving our knowledge of the drug itself, and learning best practices in a variety of situations, such as handling drugs during a seizure or while responding to an overdose. The JIBC Fentanyl Safety website is one of several options for first responders to use as an online resource, to educate and protect themselves and their communities."
Topics covered on the site include: what fentanyl is and why it is so dangerous for first responders; safe handling of suspected fentanyl; what is Naloxone and how it can save lives in cases of opioid overdoses; and job-specific information for law enforcement, fire and rescue personnel, and paramedics to help them stay safe when encountering fentanyl in the community.
Delta police Chief Neil Dubord said he is very supportive of the new resource tool.
"We have been sharing this information with all our first responders who are on the front lines and making sure they are fully engaged with it to use it as a tool to combat these fentanyl problems," said Dubord.
"I think it does several things: it increases the awareness and keeps it top of mind for us. The last thing you want is to see any kind of delay in being able to deal with these issues. It really does continue to equip our officers with tools that enable them to be safe and in turn keep other people safe."
Dubord said the fentanyl crisis continues to be an ongoing battle for law enforcement and first responders alike.
"The battle still needs to be fought. We are still seeing overdose issues and we have to continue to keep hammering this message home of the dangers of illegal drug use," Dubord said. "For us, it's around education, enforcement and equipping our officers with the tools to respond. This new JIBC website helps us do all of those things."
While designed with first responders in mind, the website is accessible to the public to help bolster awareness of the dangers of the highly toxic narcotic.
The site was developed by JIBC with funding from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
***
Fraser Health is reporting a successful Naloxone clinic held earlier this month in North Delta. It was the first of two planned open housestyle clinics with a second set for South Delta in the near future.
Fraser Health medical health officer Dr. Arlene King said 26 people attended.
"It went well. There were lots of great questions and thoughtful dialogue," King said.
She encouraged the public to keep an eye on the Fraser Health website at www.fraserhealth.ca for details on the South Delta clinic.
