Mayor hints at more measures to protect front-line workers from fentanyl

A wave of suspected fentanyl overdoses has Winnipeg mulling further means of protecting front-line emergency workers.

Mayor Brian Bowman hinted at further measures to prevent firefighters, paramedics and police officers from ingesting particles of the powerful synthetic opiate and its chemical analogs, including the animal tranquilizer carfentanil.

"We'll have more to say on that in the coming weeks about ways that we might be be able to provide some more assistance," the mayor said Monday, hours after police attended the scenes of two more incidents where people died of fentanyl overdoses.

• Fentanyl suspected in 2 more Winnipeg deaths, 3rd person in critical condition

Paramedics already carry the fentanyl antidote naloxone and police have plans to do the same. Bowman said he met with the fire-paramedic service on Monday to receive an update on a fentanyl situation he's now calling a crisis.

"It's something we are very concerned about. It is a crisis. It's going to take many parties working collaboratively to try to mitigate the ravages of fentanyl in our community."

• Fentanyl 'killing people from across the city,' firefighters say

Police board chair Jeff Browaty, the city councillor for North Kildonan, said fentanyl is a topic the board must discuss, both in terms of protecting police from the chemical and allocating resources to combat drug trafficking.

• State-of-the-art lab in Manitoba will better detect fentanyl-like street drugs

Some Winnipeggers are unknowingly ingesting fentanyl and its analogs because the chemicals are being used to cut other drugs, including cocaine.