Recent incidents of law enforcement officers becoming ill from fentanyl exposure during traffic stops – including two in Massachusetts who had to administer the life-saving drug Narcan to themselves – have raised awareness of the dangers faced by first responders.

Now, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released a new video to help emergency responders understand the risks and to take steps to protect themselves from exposure to illicit drugs.

Using actual police body cam footage, the video shows what happens when an officer is exposed to illicit drugs like fentanyl and provides recommendations on how other officers and responders can prevent it from happening to them.

The video runs 13:06. View the video on the NIOSH YouTube channel.

NIOSH developed this video in collaboration with the Fredericksburg, Virginia police and fire departments. Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/fentanyl/risk.html .

More information:

NIOSH [2019]. Illicit Drugs, Including Fentanyl: Preventing Occupational Exposure to Emergency Responders. By Hornsby-Myers J, Headley T, Dowell, C. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2019-126, https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2019126 External

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How a cop was exposed to fentanyl during a traffic stop