At about 1:30 yesterday afternoon, the Faribault Fire Department along with law enforcement responded to a call of a vehicle fire at Hwy 60 near the Dairy Queen in town. On arrival they discovered the fire was caused by a multi-vehicle accident. A pick-up truck towing a utility trailer rear ended a mini-van which in-turn was pushed into a small passenger car. Fire Chief Dustin Dienst said something then started a fire in the trailer which was carrying a utility vehicle (UTV) and some other equipment. The
trailer and all it’s contents were engulfed in flames and a complete loss. Some minor injuries were sustained. Dienst added, “This incident could have been a lot worse. Thankfully there were no major injuries”. I asked Dienst if there would be further investigation. This is his reply: We are not investigating the fire any further. Fires that are a result of a crash are just that, the dynamics of what happens in a crash cause the fire and there are many reasons for ignition, electrical shorts, sparks from metal on metal during the accident and there is always fuel involved. Unless there is a death, a large dollar loss, or suspicious circumstances these types of fires are not intensely investigated. The cause of the fire is the crash.
Emergency Responders receive Narcan training at Nfld PD
Narcan is the antidote, so to speak, of an opioid overdose. Yesterday, about 30 law enforcement personnel took part in Narcan training at the Northfield Police Department. Northfield Hospital EMS Lead instructor Casey Gregor started by explaining that Narcan is an opioid antagonizer, when injected into the system, basically it kicks the opioid out of the receptor and takes it’s place, “kind of like how Chantix works for nicotine”. It stops the release of endorphins. The drug is only given to someone who is unresponsive. The effects could take up to 5 minutes and they may have to administer more than 1 dose depending on the amount of drug inside the person’s system, and last 30 to 90 minutes. There are 3 methods of delivery, IV – which is what EMS would use in an ambulance, intramuscular – a shot in the thigh and intranasal, which is like a nasal spray. Gregor said the intranasal form works faster as the mist absorbs into the mucous membranes inside the nose. The training also included signs of an overdose such as pinpoint pupils. Children can be given Narcan. Gregor gave an example of a cancer patient who has a fentanyl or morphine patch. They throw it away in the garbage, rather than the proper way, and a toddler finds it and puts in their mouth. Officer safety was also discussed. Great care must be taken in the field due to the dangers of some of the drugs, in particular, the latest, carfentanil, which can be absorbed through the skin and is lethal. So far this year, locally there have been 7 times narcan has been administered. Last year there was a total of 21, the highest count was in 2014 at 27. Officers, agents, emergency responders and evidence technicians from Northfield, Dundas and Faribault PD, the two Fire departments as well as Rice County attended the training. EMS Director Brian Edwards will be in studio tomorrow morning at 7:20 with more on Steve’s Law, how families of addicts get Narcan, the public health crisis of opioid use and he’ll address public opinion. I’ll have pictures on kymn.net later today. [envira-gallery id=”63305″]
NHS debuts “Service and Sacrifice: Nfld in the Great War”
Northfield Historical Society debuts their newest exhibit today. Service and Sacrifice: Northfield in the Great War . This exhibit, the first in a series of three, focuses on how the Northfield community was affected by and reacted to the Great War. The public is invited to a reception this evening from 6 to 8 at the museum on Division Street.
