Lieutenant Brian Foley of the Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company #1 in West Windsor Township, New Jersey represented the National Volunteer Fire Council at the rollout of the Fentanyl Safety Recommendations for First Responders training video called Fentanyl: The Real Deal in Washington DC on August 30, 2018. Lieutenant Foley served as one of seven panelists representing national organizations. The other panelists included:

• Fraternal Order of Police, National Vice President, Jay McDonald
• National Sheriffs’ Association, Executive Director, Jonathan Thompson
  • International Association of Chiefs of Police, Member of the Board of Directors and Chief of Police,              Norwood, Massachusetts, William Brooks III
  • International Association of Fire Fighters, General President, Harold Schaitberger
  • National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, President, Dennis Rowe
  • National Association of EMS Physicians, President, Dr. Brent Myers
     

Lieutenant Foley serves as an elected director on the National Volunteer Fire Council's EMS/Rescue Section Executive Committee. Lieutenant Foley also represented the National Volunteer Fire Council at the National Security Council Interagency Working Committee that provided input into the development of the Fentanyl First Responder Safety Recommendations White Paper during the Fall of 2017.

 “Volunteer emergency responders account for nearly 70% of our nation's emergency response system. The release of the Fentanyl: The Real Deal awareness and training video will equip our volunteer emergency responders to make informed decisions on how best to combat the Fentanyl and Illicit Synthetic Opioids epidemic in their local jurisdictions. Being able to recognize the problem, collaborate amongst other agencies and educate local communities is the best solution to combat this public health crisis. The National Volunteer Fire Council recommends that volunteer fire, ems, and rescue departments evaluate their standard operating guidelines and policies to ensure responder safety”. Brian Foley, National Volunteer Fire Council - Director at Large, EMS/Rescue Section Executive Committee.

Lieutenant Foley is a strong advocate that prevention through community education is the key component to help prevent and reduce opioid abuse and addiction. Working together as a team with public and private entities by utilizing science-based best practices can unite and empower the nation to solve this public health crisis. First Responders now have additional tools and resources to combat the fentanyl and synthetic illicit opioids epidemic.

"Fentanyl and synthetic illicit opioids do not discriminate. It does not matter if you live on the west coast, east coast, rural or urban America – the opioids are present and pose a danger to first responders," said Brian Foley, director-at-large for the NVFC's EMS/Rescue Committee and a speaker at the video launch event. "If proper precautions are ignored, responders are unnecessarily putting themselves in harm's way. By following the fentanyl safety recommendations, first responders can prevent incidental exposures and remain safe while serving their community."

First Responders can access the training video and the fentanyl safety recommendations:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/trump-administration-releases-fentanyl-safety-training-video-first-responders/