By Laine Mitchell (Twitter: @Laine_Mitchell)

Seba Beach peace officer sent to hospital after fentanyl exposure

May 16, 2018 | 9:10 AM

A peace officer in Seba Beach was rushed to hospital Saturday after accidentally being exposed to the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl. 

A male member of the Seba Beach Patrol Service came into contact with the drug after finding a vial with a then unknown substance on First Ave. North in Seba Beach on May 12. 

Peace Officer Jeremy Hampton said the officer began to show symptoms of an exposure to the drug, and was transported to an Edmonton hospital in stable condition.

He was given two shots of Naloxone, a life-saving medication that quickly reverses the effects of an overdose from opioids such as fentanyl.

He was held for approximately four hours for observation to ensure the fentanyl had exited his system. 

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Following tests it was later determined that the vial found contained fentanyl, MDMA and cocaine. 

If you find anything suspicious call 9-1-1 and do not touch the object even with gloves on. A very small amount of fentanyl can be dangerous; the amount in the size of a grain of salt can cause breathing problems, cardiac arrest and death if not treated right away.

The latest report from Alberta Health Services suggested 74 Alberta residents died from poisoning related to fentanyl during the first six weeks of 2018, and 17 people died from accidental carfentanil poisoning.

Last year there were a total of 589 Albertans who died from fentanyl related poisonings according to the AHS report. A further 171 died from carfentanil related poisonings. 

Seba Beach is approximately 53 kilometres north of Drayton Valley.