Mayor Maja Tait is B次元官网网址渆xtremely concernedB次元官网网址� about the impacts of the opioid overdose crisis on Sooke firefighters.

Tait told district council recently she wants to ensure that firefighters attending drug overdose calls have all the equipment and support they need and says sheB次元官网网址檚 willing to lobby senior government for more resources.

B次元官网网址淭he opioid crisis touches our community. ThereB次元官网网址檚 an obvious concern for residents in our community,B次元官网网址� she said.

RELATED:

Last month B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) reported the number of overdose calls has steadily increased in the province during the pandemic. SookeB次元官网网址檚 call numbers have more than doubled in the past four years.

BCEHS is responsible for call intake and dispatch of medical calls, but when an ambulance is not available, firefighters are sent to the call.

Sooke Fire Chief Ted Ruiter said municipal firefighters are trained and licensed to administer an enhanced level of emergency medical care to patients.

B次元官网网址淥ur firefighters are put into many tragic circumstances by us, and we need to look after them,B次元官网网址� Tait said.

Sooke Fire Rescue answers few calls related to opioid overdose, said Ruiter.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not familiar with any opioid responses where weB次元官网网址檝e specifically used Narcan (since early November), but the staff is trained and ready for those responses,B次元官网网址� he said.

Nonetheless, the underlying concern is the wellness and mental health of firefighters, Tait said.

Given SookeB次元官网网址檚 reliance on a volunteer firefighter force, she added, council also has to question whether the overdose crisis is a barrier to attracting new firefighters.

editor@sookenewsmirror.com
Like us on and follow us on