ARIZONA NEWS

Phoenix firefighters seeing more accidental opioid overdoses in children

Apr 29, 2021, 4:55 AM

fire-truck...

(City of Phoenix Photo)

(City of Phoenix Photo)

PHOENIX – As the opioid epidemic continues to surge, firefighters in Phoenix have responded to more 911 calls involving accidental overdoses in children.

“We use the word fentanyl a lot when talking about this epidemic, but remember all the other pain pills are opioids as well – you absolutely have to treat that like poison in your home,” Capt. Rob McDade told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, a 1-year-old girl was hospitalized in extremely critical condition after swallowing an unknown pill at a Phoenix hotel.

Phoenix Fire Department officials said paramedics responded to the hotel near 44th and Van Buren streets at about 8:30 a.m. The baby was suffering from an “altered level of consciousness” and then went into cardiac arrest.

As a paramedic firefighter, McDade says when firefighters respond to calls like that they have to ask every question possible to find out what treatment is necessary.

“We have to go through a checklist of what could have happened,” McDade said. “Once we figure out it’s an overdose, we have to start treating them like an adult.”

That is when they administer naloxone, the overdose reversal drug.

Phoenix firefighters in the past have not often had to use naloxone, also known as Narcan, on children. But in the past month, it’s become more common.

“I can tell you without having any empirical evidence in front of us right now, we’ve seen an uptick in us responding recently to children having accidental overdoses,” McDade said.

Naloxone is just as safe to use on children as it is to use on adults.

The reversal drug binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids. It quickly restores normal breathing to a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped after overdosing with opioid medications.

“We’re hoping this is not the beginning of a new normal, but we are prepared,” McDade said. “It’s just disheartening to see that there is so much of it (opioids) out there that it’s getting to the point where we’re worried about children overdosing.”

McDade also recommended parents safely store and keep any opioids out of medicine cabinets that are accessible to any curious teenagers.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona News

A retired deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was convicted of luring a minor i...

David Veenstra

Retired LA deputy convicted of luring a minor in Arizona

A retired deputy from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was convicted of luring a minor in Arizona, authorities announced on Tuesday.

21 minutes ago

Man shot in head in Tempe...

KTAR.com

Man shot in head in Tempe trying to drive himself to hospital crashes into vehicles

A man who was shot in the head and attempting to drive himself to the hospital crashed into two vehicles on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

1 hour ago

Mesa Public Schools is planning layoffs....

Kevin Stone

Mesa Public Schools reveals details about how many jobs it plans to cut

Mesa Public Schools, the state’s largest public school district, released new details about its previously announced plan for layoffs.

2 hours ago

Edmund Davis...

Danny Shapiro

Man connected to Alicia Navarro case gets 100-year prison sentence for sexual abuse of children

A Montana man who admitted he was the boyfriend of Alicia Navarro, the Glendale girl who went missing for four years, received a 100-year prison sentence for sexual abuse of children, authorities announced Tuesday.

3 hours ago

$50K winning Powerball ticket sold in Scottsdale Safeway...

Serena O'Sullivan

Powerball ticket worth $50K sold in Scottsdale grocery store

A winning Powerball ticket worth $50,000 was recently sold in a Safeway in Scottsdale, according to a Tuesday Arizona Lottery news release.

4 hours ago

Brady Fire...

Danny Shapiro

Brady Fire forces evacuations for residents south of Prescott

The Brady Fire that sparked Monday afternoon forced evacuations for some residents south of Prescott, authorities said.

5 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax

How to optimize the most money in 2024 tax returns

As tax season begins, getting your financials in order is important to maximize your tax return.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to start your retirement planning early and avoid costly mistakes

Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you can avoid costly pitfalls.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to save money on retirement planning following 2024 election

PHOENIX -- With the 2024 election over, economic changes could impact how people plan for retirement as 2025 is on the horizon.

Phoenix firefighters seeing more accidental opioid overdoses in children