Photo Courtesy: Sure Screen
KAWARTHA LAKES-First responders working in the City of Kawartha Lakes are taking steps to improve the response to dangerous drug overdoses and increase safety for staff after an increase in overdoses recently.
Police, Fire & Paramedics have been meeting to discuss how they can better coordinate their response to make sure they are providing the best possible service they can to the community according to Sgt. Tom Hickey, Media Relations Coordinator.
On August 13th there were three heroin overdoses in Lindsay in twelve hours. Kawartha Lakes Paramedics and police say they feel the drugs are being laced with fentanyl.
All three victims survived but police issued a warning to the public of the dangers of these types of street drugs.
Hickey says the use of Fentanyl has been increasing and the service is attempting to keep the public and officers safe. “We have taken steps to make our officers aware of the potential dangers of the drug while handling it and packaging it for either destruction or evidence. We have purchased naloxone spray to keep on hand at the station should one of our officers become inadvertently or accidentally contaminated.” he told Kawartha 411.
They have also installed an upgraded ventilation booth along with protective breathing apparatus in the Forensic Identification office to protect against any cross-contamination of our Identification Officer while he is processing any exhibits that may be contaminated with fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a prescription drug that is used to treat severe pain associated with cancer and other life threatening illnesses. It is up to 100 times stronger that other opioid drugs such as oxycodone. It is highly addictive and deadly if used improperly.