New figures released by the City of Calgary indicate that the fire department is set to handle more than 170 percent additional overdose calls this year compared to the previous year. Fire Chief Steve Dongworth highlighted that the surge in overdose calls is part of a broader increase in medical emergencies, putting the department on course to set a new record this year.
According to Dongworth, the escalating volume of overdose calls is a significant factor, constituting approximately half of all emergency calls. This shift in responsibilities poses fresh challenges for the firefighters, affecting service performance and unit reliability in promptly responding to emergency situations.
To tackle these challenges, Dongworth mentioned that the department has been actively identifying which calls necessitate a fire department response. However, the capacity freed up by this initiative is being absorbed by the rising number of incidents, particularly opioid overdoses.
Dongworth acknowledged the toll these calls take on the staff, emphasizing the emotional strain of dealing with individuals in distressing circumstances, often leading to fatal outcomes. He also noted an uptick in staff members taking leave due to the demanding nature of these emergency responses.
Department Seeking Support from Province
To address these mounting challenges, Dongworth expressed that the department’s budget requests to the city will see a significant increase. He also stressed the importance of provincial assistance in compensating the department for the surge in medical calls, including overdoses.
Dongworth stated, “We are reaching out to the province for additional funding to cover the costs of responding to medical emergencies. This financial support would alleviate the strain on our resources and negate the need to repeatedly seek additional funding from the council to manage the escalating pressure on our services.”
Responding to these concerns, Madison McKee, press secretary for Hospital and Surgical Health Services, clarified that while the ministry acknowledges the fire department’s crucial role in responding to medical emergencies, it already receives approximately $300,000 annually through Alberta’s Medical First Response Program to support municipalities offering additional medical response services.
McKee emphasized that municipalities have the discretion to allocate fire resources based on local requirements, including their response levels to medical calls.
Impact of Changing Drug Supply
Monty Ghosh, an addictions specialist and professor at the University of Calgary and University of Alberta, highlighted the evolving local drug supply as a potential factor driving the increase in overdoses.
“There has been a notable shift in the drug supply compared to the previous year,” Ghosh remarked, pointing to the emergence of more potent forms of fentanyl combined with powerful animal tranquilizers, a common blend found in street drugs aimed at prolonging the user’s high.
This alteration in drug composition has complicated overdose responses, as individuals may not react the same way to traditional overdose treatments like naloxone, leading to a surge in emergency calls to firefighters and EMS services.
Ghosh noted, “As community members struggle to revive individuals, they may require additional support from EMS or fire services, unlike before when such situations could have been managed independently.”
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