Hazmat being called to more police calls over fentanyl exposure

RESPONDERS. MARY: POTENTIAL EXPOSURE HAS BECOMES A BIG PROBLEM IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AND, A THIRD — IN FACT, A THIRD OF ALL STATE HAZMAT CALLS ARE FOR NOW WHITE POWDER, THE VAST MAJORITY FENTANYL. THIS TIME, NO ONE GOT HURT. BUT HAZMAT RESPONDED ENFORCE OVERNIGHT, AFTER A SUSPECT TOLD STATE POLICE IN NORWELL THAT THE WHITE POWDER ON HER CLOTHING AND IN THE CRUISER WAS FENTANYL. >> LAST NIGHT WAS INCONCLUSIVE BECAUSE WE PROBABLY GOT MORE OF A CUTTING AGENT THAN ANYTHING ELSE. MARY: DAVID DEGREGRIO IS THE STATE HAZMAT DIRECTOR. 90% OF IT IS THE CUTTING AGENT, NOT THE FENTANYL. ANYTHING HIGHER THAN THAT IS GOING TO KILL PEOPLE. MARY: WHILE NO FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE DIED FROM EXPOSURE HERE I MASSACHUSETTS, A CLOSE CALL IN IOWA LAST WEEKEND SERVES AS A SOBERING REMINDER. POLICE BODY CAMERAS CAPTURED THE MOMENT AN OFFICER IN FORT DODGE BREATHED IN FENTANYL DURING A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP. THE OFFICER WAS UNCONSCIOUS IN MINUTES. IT TOOK MULTIPLE DOES OF NARCAN TO REVIVE HIM. >> YOU DO NOT WANT TO GET IT INTO THE EYES AND NEW. IT CAN BE DANGEROUS THAT WAY. MARY: BECAUSE FENTYANL IS A SYNTHETIC DRUG, THER

Hazmat being called to more police calls over fentanyl exposure

Updated: 5:53 PM EST Mar 8, 2019

Potential exposure has becomes a big problem for first responders in the past two years. In fact, a third of all state hazmat calls are for now white powder, the vast majority Fentanyl.

Potential exposure has becomes a big problem for first responders in the past two years. In fact, a third of all state hazmat calls are for now white powder, the vast majority Fentanyl.