Above, a picture of Minneapolis city hall from the city’s Facebook page.
MINNEAPOLIS — City officials are reportedly thinking of changing the way police and emergency medical service personnel respond to drug overdose calls.
A working group has recommended the city only send EMTs to overdoes calls and only send police if the EMTs on scene request it, according to KSTP-TV.
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One Drug and alcohol counselor said the possible change could make it a life or death situation when every second counts.
“This is a matter of seconds, not minutes, as to whether a life can be saved during an overdose,” Randy Anderson told the station. “If there is now a moment where a conversation has to be had to determine if a police officer should respond, or an EMT, I guarantee a life will be lost at some point.”
Related: Meth is Most Common Drug in Overdose Deaths in Chunk of U.S.
Andrea Larson, a city coordinator with the city said the idea is in the early stages. The city council could decide on the study sometime next month, the report said.
Watch the report below.
