Infant found in critical condition in home with suspected fentanyl residue

Achild under 18 months oldwas taken to hospital in critical condition Tuesday night after beingrescued from aNorth End Winnipeghome that containedwhatpolice suspect wasfentanylresidue.

The child's conditionhas since been upgraded to stable and the prognosis is positive, saidWinnipeg police spokesmanConst. Rob Carver.

Police did not say whether the overdose reversal drugnaloxonewas used on thechild.

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Police suspect the child may have gone into distress after coming into contact with fentanyl at theAikinsStreet home, but are waiting for Health Canada labs to confirm whether the substance was fentanyl.

"The drug is incredibly toxic. If it is fentanyl, these are the kind of risks that are present," said Carver.

Winnipeg police are expecting testresults early next week.Still, they may not publiclysay whether it was fentanylin the home in orderto protect the child's personal health information.

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Fentanylchanging police responses

Due to the toxicity of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that the U.S.Centers for Disease Control describes as50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, Winnipeg police deployed their clandestine lab team atthe infant'shome.

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Police cannot take any chances, said Carver, because it ispossible to overdose on fentanylsimply by touching the drug.

Hazmat responses may become more commonplace in Winnipeg as use of the drug spreads, he said.

"This is new territory for everyone," said Carver.

"The drug is deadly and it's not just deadly to the people who are using it, it's deadly to people in the area and it's changing the nature of what first responders are dealing with."

Alycia Batson lives on Aikins Street with her young children and said the scare has her rethinking thefamily's trick or treating plans.

"It's a little bit scary that it's that close," Batsonsaid. "I know for sure I'm not taking my children out for Halloween this year; we're going to the malls.I don't feel safe trick or treating over here especially now."

Roxanna Spence, who also lives onAikins, shares Batson's concerns.

"[It's] very scary, because I got kids upstairs, too," Spence said.

Charges could be laid

Carver said more information about the investigation will be released next week, including any potential charges.

"I don't want to say no charges," he said.

"We have investigators working on it. Certainly we are pursuing that avenue of investigation."

Possible charges a person or people in the homemay face includechild endangerment, said Carver.

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Fentanyl concerns changing way police departments keep officers safe

8 years ago

Duration 1:14

Const. Rob Carver speaks about how dealing with the drug fentanyl changes the way police and fire departments keep their officers safe.