New statistics released by the City of Calgary indicate a significant surge in overdose-related calls to the fire department, showing a projected increase of over 170% compared to the previous year. Fire Chief Steve Dongworth noted that this uptick in overdose incidents contributes to an overall rise in medical emergency calls, potentially leading to a record-breaking total of nearly 100,000 calls for the year.
Chief Dongworth highlighted the evolving responsibilities of firefighters, with overdose calls now constituting approximately half of all emergency responses. This shift poses new challenges for the department, affecting service performance and unit availability for incoming calls.
To tackle these challenges, Dongworth mentioned that the department has been evaluating the necessity of fire department response to different types of calls. However, the increased demand stemming from areas like opioid overdoses has offset the effectiveness of this strategy.
The nature of overdose calls also places emotional strain on the staff, as they frequently engage with individuals facing dire circumstances, often resulting in fatal outcomes. As a consequence, the department has observed a rise in members taking leaves of absence due to the toll of these encounters.
In response to these escalating demands, Dongworth indicated that budget requests to the city will see a significant rise. He also appealed to the provincial government for support in compensating the department for the surge in medical emergencies, particularly overdoses. Seeking financial reimbursement from the province would alleviate the strain on the department’s resources and potentially obviate the need to seek additional funding from the local council.
Addressing the changing landscape of drug supply, addictions specialist and professor Monty Ghosh underscored shifts in the local drug market as a potential factor driving the spike in overdoses. He noted a prevalence of more potent forms of fentanyl laced with potent animal tranquilizers in street drugs, altering the response dynamics to overdoses and necessitating enhanced medical intervention.
Ghosh suggested that these changes in the drug supply could be contributing to the heightened demand for emergency services, as individuals may struggle to manage overdoses effectively without the usual levels of naloxone efficacy. This situation may lead community members to seek assistance from EMS or fire services, intensifying the workload for first responders.
