The inquest into the drug dying of an 18-year-old College of Victoria pupil final 12 months heard testimony Friday from the 911 operator who dealt with the decision.
Sidney McIntyre-Starko died of fentanyl poisoning in January 2024 after she and a good friend collapsed in a college dorm room after consuming medication present in a field of coolers a good friend discovered on a avenue nook.
Kylie Alfano was a name taker for BC Emergency Well being Providers on the time, and figuring out of a name centre in Vancouver when the decision got here in.
In keeping with audio of the decision, it took Alfano and the coed who had dialed 911 greater than three minutes to find out the situation to deploy paramedics.
The inquest heard that decision takers are skilled to find out an actual location earlier than starting triage.
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The coed who had referred to as for assist had reported that her two mates have been turning blue and having seizures. The decision taker requested if the women have been epileptic or diabetic, however not if they’d taken any medication.
Alfano testified that 911 name takers are skilled to strictly adhere to a script and to not make assumptions, and described the decision as each complicated and irritating.
It was 12 minutes into the decision, with safety officers now on scene and speaking to the operator, that Alfano asks whether it is attainable the women had ingested one thing.
At that time, the operator directs safety to manage naloxone to each women.
On Thursday, the inquest heard from UVic safety officer Benjamin Watson, one of many first individuals on the scene.
Watson testified that he instantly thought of the potential for a drug overdose and requested a number of instances whether or not the 2 women who have been in medical misery had taken something.
Watson advised the inquest the coed who had made the 911 name initially denied drug use, and that it took a number of minutes earlier than her story modified.
At that time, he instantly administered naloxone, the inquest heard.
Watson testified that, on the time, safety had been skilled to solely use naloxone in instances the place an overdose was suspected. UVic has subsequently modified its insurance policies round when and the way the overdose-reversing remedy is used.
Watson additionally apologized to McIntyre-Starko’s household, saying he was sorry the safety workforce didn’t present up higher, however that they “did the perfect we might.”
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