Innisfil Fire and Rescue Services has added neffy, an epinephrine nasal spray, to its emergency medical kits.
This makes them the first fire department in Canada to carry the needle-free device.
Epinephrine is a first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can become life-threatening within minutes. The nasal spray provides firefighters with another option for administering epinephrine during emergency responses.
Fire Chief Brent Thomas says the addition reflects the department’s focus on innovation and reducing barriers to rapid treatment.
As part of the rollout, 40 career firefighters and 20 volunteer firefighters completed training on the device. Neffy units are now deployed across three response vehicles and three stations.
Innisfil Fire and Rescue Services Medical Director Dr. Ian Young says intranasal epinephrine provides another option that may reduce hesitation among responders and improve patient acceptance of treatment.
The department notes that residents with severe allergies should continue to carry their own prescribed epinephrine. The neffy units carried by firefighters are intended for emergency response and are not a replacement for personal prescriptions.
If you have a news tip or story idea, you can now send us a heads up via email at:
- News1013@LocalRadio.ca (Milton)
- News1015@LocalRadio.ca (Orangeville)
- News92@LocalRadio.ca (South Simcoe)
- Rick.Sargent@LocalRadio.ca (Bolton)
If you’d like to get ahold of me personally, shoot me a message at Cameron.Wilkinson@LocalRadio.ca. We’re in the business of content creation, so no idea is a bad idea.
