Volunteer rural firefighters call lack of naloxone kits 'scary' situation

Volunteer firefighters in Nova Scotia's LunenburgCounty say their lives are being putat risk if accidentally exposed to fentanyl on the jobbecause they don't haveaccess tonaloxone.

RCMPofficers, Justice Departmentsheriffsand paramedics in Lunenburg County currently carry naloxone, which can reverse the effects of an overdose from opioids, including fentanyl.

Bridgewater'smunicipalpolice service is also equipped and officers have beentrained on how to administer the potentiallylive-saving medication.

However, none of the county's 34 volunteer fire departments has a kit.

"We're first responders. We're quite often there first on the scene," saidSherri Dickson, a firefighter inBridgewater.

"If that call has something to do with the fentanyl issues, we're at high risk."

Suspected exposures

Fentanyl andcarfentanil are powerful opioidswhich are beginning to show up in Nova Scotia. Even small amounts can be harmful.

First responders in other provinces have reported suspected exposures simply from being in the same area as fentanyl at a car crash or inside a house.

• Winnipeg police officer taken to hospital over suspected fentanyl exposure

However, Dr. AndrewTravers, the provincialmedical director for Emergency Health Services (EHS) said the latest research indicatesexposure only happens when a syntheticopioidgets into the brain through being ingested or being exposed to mucus membranes.

For that reason,Traverssaid the occupational risk is not as high as some people imagine, andthe province has chosen to target "hot spots" for distribution ofnaloxonekits to volunteer firefighters, rather than do a province-wide distribution.

"I know that there's always the question with regards to, should we havenaloxonein other areas of the province, with other providers. And sure, we are going to work towards that area, but we're going to do it in a controlled and evidence-based and integrated fashion," saidTravers.

• Firefighter-paramedic treated with opioid antidote after exposure to suspected fentanyl

Fentanyl hits Lunenburg County

Meanwhile, Heather Mackenzie-Carey of the Regional Emergency Management Organization in Lunenburg Countysaid her organization needsdirection from the provincial government in terms of accessingnaloxonekits.

"Because we're rural, our firefighters wear multiple hats and they are often the first ones in to a variety of calls," said Mackenzie-Carey, whoco-ordinates and supports first responders on behalf of municipal governments.

"They could be walking in on something they're not aware of."

Preparing for the unknown

She said the five municipalities in her area have money set aside for naloxone nasal spray kits for firefighters.

On July 28, her organizationsent a letter tothe Nova Scotia governmenton behalf of the county's 800 active firefighters asking for municipal and provincial co-ordination in making kits available to volunteer fire departments.

Mackenzie-Carey said theorganization is aware that fentanyl is in the area.

"It's not to the degree that we're seeing in other places around the countrybut at any day it could be," she said.

"We know it's hereand it's also an emerging threat."

Lt.AnitaMacDonaldArenburgof theBridgewaterfire department said her department has already been involved in cases involving fentanyl.

"Whatever call we go out on, we want to be prepared for whatever the call is," she said, adding that it's a "scary situation."

'It's a priority'

WayneThorburne,chair of the Regional Emergency Management Organization forLunenburgCounty, said it's important the kits are made available soon.

"It's a priority because our first responders are all volunteers," said Thorburne, a municipalcouncillorin Bridgewater and a former firefighter.

"They volunteer a lot for trainingand to provide a high level of service to the residents. We feel collectively like we have to protect our first responders and do whatever we can to make their jobs safer."

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