EVERETT — A 13-month-old baby died this week from an apparent accidental fentanyl overdose, one of three young children exposed to the dangerous drug in their homes in the past week in Everett, fire officials said.
At 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, a 911 caller reported the 13-month-old baby was not breathing in an apartment on West Casino Road, according to the Everett Fire Department. Firefighters transported the baby to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, where the child later died. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause and manner of death.
The baby’s death followed two non-fatal overdoses in the span of five days, according to the fire department.
Around 7:45 a.m. Saturday, an 11-month-old baby was reported unresponsive in a home on East Marine View Drive, according to fire officials. The child was given the overdose reversal drug naloxone before responders arrived. Firefighters took the baby to the hospital. The child has since been released.
Around 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, firefighters responded to a report of a 6-month-old baby having difficulty breathing in an apartment on Broadway, officials said. First responders arrived to find the baby unresponsive. They gave the child naloxone. The child remained at Seattle Children’s Hospital on Thursday.
Everett police and fire officials were investigating the three overdoses this week, but didn’t believe they were directly connected.
Last year, at least 269 people in Snohomish County died from opioid overdoses. As of earlier this month, 31 people in the county had died from opioid overdoses. Fentanyl was a factor in 27 of those deaths.
“The City of Everett is deeply concerned about the increasing fentanyl overdoses that involve young children,” the fire department wrote in a Facebook post. “Even a small amount of fentanyl residue can be lethal to children, as the drug can be more potent to a baby or toddler’s smaller body and lack of opioid tolerance. Pills can look like candy to children, especially when they’re brightly colored.”
Maya Tizon: 425-339-3434; maya.tizon@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @mayatizon.
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