Huntington Beach, CA, September 29th, 2021
A video of a deputy in training went viral this summer after being shared by a county sheriff’s department in California. The video shows the bodycam footage of the officer processing unknown drugs at the scene of an arrest. The trainee gets too close to the unknown substance which causes him to pass out. The training officer then quickly administers naloxone before emergency medical professionals arrive to take him to the hospital.
Fortunately, in this case, the officer survived due to the quick response of his partner and the other first responders. The Sheriff had the video posted to the department’s website to share with others the dangers of accidental exposure to fentanyl. The video has since gone viral and has been reported on by news agencies across the country.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. A lethal dose is just 2 milligrams in most people. The drug has become a major concern as the abuse and illegal use of pharmaceutical and clandestinely produced fentanyl has been found nationwide. It is increasingly also being used as an additive with other illicit drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, meth, and MDMA to increase the potency of those drugs.
“Emergency responders are at high risk to exposure due to the increasing use of the dangerous drug,” said Joseph Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at LA Testing. “Our nationwide network of laboratories offers drug and unknown substance testing services to identify this and many other hazardous materials.”
LA Testing has also sponsored an educational video about fentanyl and potential occupational exposure that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/EHnJ6ed0esI.
To learn more about fentanyl or other illicit drugs, industrial hygiene, environmental, health, and safety testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com, or call (800) 755-1794.
About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash, and smoke damage, particulates, and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health, and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego, and Ontario.