San Rafael, CA – Learning how to administer Narcan, a drug that can save the life of someone experiencing an overdose of prescription medication or an illicit drug, will be incorporated into the County of Marin’s annual lifesaving first aid event called Don’t Miss a Beat.
On August 13, anyone age 8 and older can learn how to use Narcan, a nasal spray that rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. The Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is combining efforts with the Marin County Emergency Medical Services Agency (Marin EMS), Marin Medical Reserve Corps (MMRC), the RxSafe Marin grassroots campaign, and those who organize Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) to host the 12th annual event Saturday, August 13. Trainings will take place at venues all over Marin. Here are the sites:
- Bon Air Shopping Center (Greenbrae)
- Corte Madera Town Center
- Marin Country Mart (Larkspur)
- Montecito Plaza (San Rafael)
- Muir Beach parking lot
- Sausalito Ferry Terminal
- Stinson Beach Fire Department
- Target (Marin City)
- Tiburon Ferry Terminal
- The Depot (Mill Valley)
- Toby’s Feed Barn (Pt. Reyes Station)
- Vintage Oaks Shopping Center (Novato)
Don’t Miss a Beat provides free training on three crucial emergency lifesaving techniques:
- Hands-Only CPR: Hands-only CPR is CPR without the mouth-to-mouth breaths. It is recommended for use by people who see someone collapse. Medical professionals will teach hands-only CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) that help keep hearts beating.
- Stop The Bleed: This is a national awareness campaign that teaches how to recognize and control life-threatening bleeding. Blood loss is the leading cause of preventable death in multi-casualty incidents, car crashes, earthquakes and industrial accidents.
- Narcan Spray: Narcan (or Naloxone) spray rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Public safety agencies have trained first responders on the use of Narcan, but it now available to anyone.
“These trainings empower everyday people to provide life-saving assistance to victims of sudden cardiac arrest, a traumatic injury, or overdose,” said Karrie Groves, a registered nurse and program coordinator for Marin HHS. “For every minute that passes before help arrives, survival rates decrease. With these trainings, there is power in bystander response to improve patient outcomes and save lives.”
Groves said four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home. “More than likely, people will be performing hands-only CPR on someone they know and love,” she said. “With less than five minutes of coaching, you could set yourself up for life-saving heroics.”
In the past 12 years, nearly 20,000 people have participated in the Marin trainings. This year, Marin HHS hopes to train more than 1,000 people during the single-day event.
Don’t Miss a Beat is open to anyone age 8 and older. Appointments are not necessary. Visitors can swing by any of the 12 locations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to learn CPR, emergency first aid and how to administer Narcan at no cost. Participants will be eligible for door prizes and receive a spray Narcan kit and COVID-19 test kit, while supplies last.
More information can be found at ems.marinhhs.org.