By Chad Klassen

Kamloops firefighters being trained to administer naloxone

May 6, 2016 | 5:37 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s a drug that, if administered quickly into a patient that’s overdosed, can save a life. 

So far this year, naloxone, which reverses the effects an opiate overdose, has been used in a number of cases in the Interior. 

Given its proven use, the province announced in January that licensed firefighters would be allowed to delivery naloxone if trained properly. 

With a recent spike in overdoses, Kamloops Fire Rescue is in the process of training its staff, 106 frontline firefighters, to administer naloxone when they respond to emergencies. 

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“We’ve been monitoring that initiative from the province for some time now,” says Kamloops Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Mike Adams. “We embrace the opportunity for our first responders to provide that life-saving piece of equipment. We’re partnering with B.C. Ambulance as first responders. We’ll do what we can, and any opportunity to enhance the services that we have for the citizens of Kamloops, we’ll embrace that.” 

Firefighters in Vancouver and Surrey are already equipped with naloxone kits, while the City of Langley decided against it, leaving the delivery of naloxone to paramedics. 

But firefighters are often the first to respond to emergencies and can play a critical role in saving someone’s life. KFR says having naloxone kits will take that to a whole other level.

“As first responders, we’ll attend to these overdoses,” says Adams. “Right now, we have limited abilities to deliver the naloxone. Hopefully, once the training’s done, it’ll provide us with greater tools so that we can make a significant different to those that are impacted.”

KFR says with training beginning soon, firefighters will be stocked with the kits, ready at moments notice, some time this summer. 

“There’s medical training involved, and that’ll be provided by B.C. Emergency Health Services. Then once that training is completed with our internal instructor, then we’ll disseminate that out to our staff. Trying to train over 100 personnel is going to take a bit of time, but we’re committed to it and we’re hopeful we’ll have it completed in the not too distant future.”