FCPD Issuing Officers Gear for Combatting Deadly Opioids

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In light of the growing opioid epidemic and an increase in deadly substances like fentanyl and carfentanyl, our department will be deploying improved personal protective equipment (PPE) to our officers, as well as Narcan kits. There is a risk for inadvertent exposure to first responders during their day-to-day duties. Touching or inhaling even a small amount of these substances can be fatal. Our officers already have masks and gloves, but the department is taking this step to add additional equipment in order to protect our residents and our officers against this dangerous threat. Our partners at Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department do an excellent job responding to overdose emergencies. They will continue to be the primary agency for administering emergency medicine, however our officers will now be equipped to assist if needed. Training starts this month.

PPE will include P100 masks and eye protection
Narcan kits will contain two doses of nasal naloxone and two sets of gloves

Once rollout is complete, every officer on the department will have been issued this additional improved PPE to limit exposure to this threat. We will also be issuing about 500 Narcan kits. Narcan Nasal Spray 4mg is an FDA-approved nasal form of naxolone, a drug that counteracts the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose.

We lost 113 people to opioid overdoses in Fairfax County in 2017. Our community is not alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says overdoses nationwide have reached epidemic levels. If you or someone you know needs help with a substance use issue, call the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board:

Anyone can get trained in how to use Narcan; over 1,300 people in our community already are. Here’s the link to the CSB’s free, one-hour REVIVE training:

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/community-services-board/sites/community-services-board/files/assets/documents/pdf/revive-training.pdf

For ongoing updates, please read our blog and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD.

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