Everett Fire Provides Update On Triple Overdose Call At Senior Apartment Complex

A mass-casualty incident was called to bring sufficient resources to the scene.

 Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m., Everett Fire responded to a report of multiple people overdosing at the Vintage at Everett Senior Apartments – 1001 W Marine View Dr. Fire crews arrived on scene to find three patients in one of the apartments and immediately started providing life-saving care, including administering Naloxone (NARCAN). It is unknown if the patients were residents of the apartment complex.

Three patients were transported to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, two in critical condition and one in stable condition. At the time of this writing, a female in her mid-60s and a second adult female (unknown age) remain in critical condition, and a male in his 50s was released from the hospital.

Due to the number of patients, the incident was upgraded to a Multiple Casualty Incident (MCI), which brought mutual aid assistance from South County Fire, Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue and Snohomish County Fire District #22.

Everett Police Department officers also assisted on scene. There is no current criminal investigation.

Due to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, the Everett Fire Department is unable to provide individual treatment details of each patient. In general, because opioid overdoses first stop people from breathing, first responders may administer oxygen, use artificial ventilation, provide other respiratory support, and administer NARCAN. If a person stops breathing, cardiac arrest will follow, which can lead to death unless they get immediate treatment and medical intervention.

If you witness an overdose:

• Try to wake the person.
  • Shake them and call their name.
  • Rub your knuckles hard over their chest bone.
• Call 911
• Give them Naloxone (NARCAN) if available.
• If the person is not breathing or is taking irregular breaths, provide rescue breaths if you can do so safely.
  • Tilt Head back. Lift chin. Pinch nose.
  • Give 2 quick breaths. Chest should rise.
  • Then give 1 slow breath every 5 seconds.
  • Keep going until they start breathing or until help arrives.
• Stay with the person.

Signs of an Opioid Overdose:

• Unresponsive/unconscious
• Discolored skin (lips and fingertips turn blue)
• Slow, weak, or no breathing
• Choking or gurgling sounds
• Cold and/or clammy skin

Naloxone (NARCAN) Resources:

People with Medicaid/Apple Health insurance can get Naloxone at a pharmacy at no additional cost. People with private insurance may need to pay, depending on their plan. Free Naloxone kits, training and other resources can be found at The People’s Harm Reduction Alliance (PHRA) website or at the Washington State Department of Health’s Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution webpage.

Resource: Stop Opioid Overdose Brochure