Firefighters in Wilmington want to change a Delaware state law so they can start carrying the potentially lifesaving drug Narcan. They are trained to give Narcan to people when they overdose on heroin or other opioids, but right now the law says they cannot have the antidote on them.
Officials at the Wilmington Fire Department are pushing for a tweak in state law so that its firefighters can carry an opioid overdose drug.
The News Journal reports that the department expects its personnel to start carrying the drug Narcan shortly, once state law is changed. Delaware already allows most first responders to carry and administer the drug, but Wilmington's Fire Department cannot because it is registered solely as a fire department.
Battalion Chief John Looney said the department's firefighters have the skills necessary to administer the drug.
