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Faulkner County coroner's report: 127 coroner responses in January, county warns of fluoro-fentanyl exposure risk
Summary
County presented a monthly coroner report showing 127 deaths the coroner responded to in January, described delays in toxicology/autopsy results for overdose determinations, and circulated a memo warning first responders about exposure to a fluoro-fentanyl case; staff also demonstrated powered gurney equipment the office plans to adopt.
Faulkner County officials told the court that the coroner's monthly report shows 127 deaths in January that required coroner response and that the office is developing regular metrics to track trends, call timing and staffing needs.
Administrator Higgins presented the draft coroner report and said the report breaks deaths into categories such as natural causes, long-term care, inpatient, infant/fetal demise, accident, suicide, homicide, pending autopsy and overdose. "A hundred and twenty-seven is a lot," Jessica of the coroner's office said in response to a question about whether the January total was high.
Higgins and coroner staff emphasized that the coroner's count does not equal all deaths in Faulkner County because some deaths are certified by doctors without coroner involvement. The draft report included a simple day/night split: 49 calls during daytime hours and 78 during nighttime hours, figures staff said they will track monthly to spot trends.
Staff also explained how overdose determinations depend on laboratory toxicology and autopsy results that can take months. A death the office labeled "pending autopsy" may be reclassified when a lab report arrives in a subsequent month, Higgins said.
The coroner's office circulated a memo describing a recent autopsy report from another county identifying fluoro-fentanyl — described in the memo as a fentanyl analog reportedly twice as potent as fentanyl and linked in the memo to at least 16 deaths nationally — and warned of the hazard to first responders from powder residue at scenes. The county memo said that "exposure" to residue can be rapidly life-threatening and urged responders to use nitrile gloves, masks and other personal protective equipment; the memo noted that powder residue was present at a local scene the coroner had investigated.
The court also viewed demonstrations of powered patient-handling equipment. Staff described a Stryker-brand powered gurney and a separate assist device the office is testing to reduce worker injuries and to move heavier decedents without as many manual lifts. Higgins said the county has ordered Stryker equipment and that vehicle loading compatibility and potential vehicle replacements remain under review; he indicated the office may request additional funding for vehicle modification or replacement at a future budget discussion.
No ordinance or personnel changes were decided during the briefing; staff said the coroner's report will be finalized and provided monthly and may be expanded to include additional productivity or response-time metrics on request.
