09/09/2024
Health Department to Participate in ‘Save a Life’ Day
FREDERICK, MD – The Frederick County Health Department (FCHD) will be participating in SoarWV’s “Save a Life Day’ by providing Narcan/Naloxone training at nine different locations across the county. FCHD is partnering with Frederick Rescue Mission, Weis Markets, Thurmont Addiction Commission, Frederick County Public Libraries, Frederick County Circuit Court, Frederick County Department of Housing and Human Services, and Mega Mart, for this event. In addition to providing training, FCHD will also have fentanyl testing strips, and disposable breathalyzers available at the following locations on September 26, 2024.
• Frederick Rescue Mission (419 W. South Street Frederick, MD) from 7am-9am
• Frederick County Health Department (350 Montevue Lane Frederick MD, entrance C) 8am-4pm
• Frederick County Health Department Golden Mile Office (1100 W. Patrick St. Frederick, MD) 8am-4pm *Spanish translation available
• Weis in Thurmont (2 Thurmont Blvd Thurmont, MD) 12pm-2pm
• Walkersville Library (2 South Glade Road Walkersville, MD) 12pm-2pm
• Frederick County Courthouse courtyard (100 W. Patrick St. Frederick, MD,) 12:30pm-2:30pm
• Frederick Department of Housing and Human Services (100 S. Market Street Frederick, MD) 1pm-4pm
• Brunswick Library community room (915 N. Maple Ave Brunswick, MD,) 2:30-4:30pm
• Mega Mart (1 Western Dr. Frederick, MD) 5pm-7pm *Spanish translation available
All attendees will receive one naloxone kit, an in-person training, information about local resources, giveaways, and be entered for a chance to win a $25 Olive Garden gift card.
People who use drugs, their family members and friends, community members and anyone who wants to be prepared to save a life are welcome to get trained. The training takes just 5-10 minutes. Naloxone, more well known by one of its brand names, Narcan, is an easy-to use nasal spray, that works to reverse opioid overdoses. For the first time in over 50 years of use, this formerly prescription-only medication was approved for over-the-counter distribution in 2023 making it more accessible to the general population and allowing for more lives to be saved.
“We are very excited to host our second annual Save a Life Day event in Frederick County. By distributing naloxone, we are empowering the community to save the lives of people who use drugs without judgement, and we are connecting the community to resources across the county to support people who use drugs,” said FCHD’s Harm Reduction Program Coordinator Marisa Shields. “We are extremely grateful and appreciative for those organizations and businesses who have chosen to partner with us in support of this event.”
In the last 12 months, FCHD’s Harm Reduction Program has trained more than 3,000 people on overdose response and dispensed over 7,500 doses of naloxone, the generic name for Narcan, to the community.
The events in Frederick County are just some the region wide efforts. 30 states will be hosting over 300 Save a Life Day events. All the states east of the Mississippi River have at least one location participating. A list of participating states and counties can be found at www.soarwv.org/east.
“Save a Life Day is about more people feeling like they can be a part of the work of healing their communities,” said Sarah Stone, Co-Director of SOAR WV. “Everybody can pick up naloxone on Save a Life Day for sure, but the truth is most sites are looking for helpers, trainers, and people who want to find ways to plug in year-round. Giving out naloxone can be almost as transformative as receiving it.”
For anyone interested but unable to attend, the Frederick County Health Department provides free overdose response training virtually and in-person every Friday at 1 p.m. The Frederick County Health Department is also available to schedule trainings for organizations or businesses who would like to receive the training. For more information call 301-600-1777 or visit, Health.FrederickCountyMD.gov/ORT.
