Hertfordshire firefighters to carry Naloxone after successful trial
It helps reverse the effects of opioids
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service will begin carrying Naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, in all fire stations by the end of the year.
The decision follows a trial in Watford and the Three Rivers area, where firefighters used the nasal spray in a real emergency. Watford Fire Station crew members administered the drug to a man found unresponsive near the station. Suspecting an opioid overdose, they gave Naloxone, which quickly stabilised him until ambulance staff arrived.
Naloxone works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, displacing substances such as heroin, fentanyl, methadone and morphine, and temporarily reversing their effects. Fire crews will carry two 1.8mg doses, as more than one is often needed.
Councillor Ajanta Hilton, Executive Member for Public Health and Community Safety at Hertfordshire County Council, said:
“Our firefighters provide a lifesaving service that Hertfordshire residents truly value and with them now being able to administer medication such as Naloxone they have added another string to their bow.
“The trial is a powerful example of how our collaborative efforts with Public Health, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Change Grow Live and East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust are making a tangible difference. It’s great for residents to know that all fire stations will be able to use this medication by the end of this year.”
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 71 drug-related deaths in Hertfordshire in 2023, the highest level in four years. The number has risen 163% since 2010, compared with a national increase of 98%. Opiates were involved in 46% of cases last year.
Of those who died in Hertfordshire in 2023, 68% were men and 32% women. The number of deaths among men has increased by 200% since 2010, while the rise among women has been 109%. Since 2020, overall drug-related deaths in the county have risen by 39%.
Advice and support for those concerned about drug or alcohol use is available via the Hertfordshire County Council website.