Fire service adds lifesaving drug to emergency response kit

Naloxone, the emergency medication used to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, is set to be available in every fire station across Hertfordshire by the end of the year.

The move follows a successful trial at Watford and Three Rivers stations, where crews were trained to carry and administer the drug. Watford firefighters were the first to use it in a real incident, when they responded to a middle-aged man found unresponsive near the station. Suspecting an opioid overdose, the crew administered a Naloxone nasal spray which quickly stabilised the patient ahead of the arrival of the East of England Ambulance Service.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that Hertfordshire recorded 71 drug-related deaths in 2023 – the highest in four years. The rate of increase in the county since 2010 is higher than the national average, with opioids remaining the main cause.

Councillor Ajanta Hilton, Executive Member for Public Health and Community Safety at Hertfordshire County Council, said the trial demonstrated the value of closer working between emergency services and public health partners.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

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