Alerts

Community Response Team Update 11/1/23

Mark Switzer
Mark Switzer • November 4, 2023

West Marin Community Response Team Newsletter
Public Health & Emergency Preparedness Updates
November 1, 2023

Dear Community,

Wow! What a way to start are series of West Marin Health and Wellness Fairs! Our Point Reyes Health Fair at the Dance Palace was a great success. Over 100 vaccines given, over 60 people received vision care (over half of that received free glasses), 160 burritos were served and many more enjoyed the host of free services and festivities. It was such a joy to see so much of our community show up and connect so many people to so many services. The fun doesn't end here though. We have three more fairs in the next three weeks! With more opportunities for Flu and COVID vaccinations and a whole host of more services. (Please see dates and details below). With COVID vaccinations having become commercialized, we recognize it is creating new disparities in access that directly affect West Marin. With that said, our recent and upcoming Health Fairs have created some opportunities for vaccinations for our West Marin communities. (Please see vaccine opportunities below.) As we are getting into the season where respiratory viruses (COVID, Flu, RSV) tend to increase, we recommend getting up to date on vaccinations.

A few weeks ago brought several reminders about the importance of earthquake preparedness. Wednesday’s 4.2 magnitude earthquake in the Sacramento Valley triggered real time alerts, and a day later was International ShakeOut Day where people worldwide practiced "drop, cover, & hold on" drills at work, school, or home. For earthquake readiness, visit ReadyMarin.  

A fantastic opportunity to be ready for medical emergencies is a lifesaving skills class in Spanish happening Monday, November 6 at the Point Reyes Presbyterian Church from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. One will learn how to stop a bleed, use Narcan, use an AED and hands-only CPR. It will include dinner and childcare. See details in Spanish here.

On a final note, our West Marin Community Response Team has been shifting some of its focus to overdose prevention work. We have distributed over two hundred Narcan units (which is a nasal spray that counteracts an opioid overdose). Narcan from our West Marin distribution has been used to save four lives that we know of. That's incredible, but it also underscores that even our West Marin rural communities are being hit with the opioid epidemic. Along with our Narcan distribution network (please see places of distribution below) we have also begun to set up 24 hour emergency access boxes stocked with Narcan. We have four locations so far (Bolinas Community Center, The West Marin Pharmacy, The Inverness Post Office, and the Inverness Firehouse) where you can access Narcan 24/7 with more locations being set up!

Take care and stay safe,
The West Marin Community Response Team
Huge thanks to everyone that participated and attended our Point Reyes Health and Wellness Fair!
We have 3 more Health Fairs this month!
See flyer in Spanish here
 
Marin Lifesaving Skills Training in Spanish

Marin Health and Human Services presents two-hour class to learn:
  • Hands only CPR
  • Automated External Defibrillator
  • Stop the Bleed
  • Narcan
Upcoming Classes in West Marin (In Spanish)
West Marin Community Services (Presbyterian Church Site)
11445 CA-1, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
Monday, November 6, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Register here or call 415 663 8361

See Spanish Flyer

Check out more upcoming classes in Marin County here
 
 
24 Hour Access Emergency Overdose Boxes in West Marin!
(With more on the way)
24-Hour Access Emergency Overdose Kits in West Marin

Inverness Post Office
12781 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Inverness, CA 94937
Inverness Firehouse
50 Inverness Way, Inverness, CA 94937
West Marin Pharmacy
11 4th St, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
Bolinas Community Center
14 Wharf Rd, Bolinas, CA 94924
What's in the Emergency Overdose Boxes?

Narcan (Naloxone)

Naloxone (brand name NARCAN®) is a life-saving FDA-approved medication that is used to reverse the effects of overdoses from opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, and morphine.

Narcan is administered as a nasal spray version and comes 2 in a kit.

Learn more about Narcan in English and Spanish

More locations to access free Narcan in West Marin in English and Spanish
 
                            *Update*

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter. Vaccine manufacturers have begun distributing vaccine supply nationwide.

Where to get a Vaccinations in West Marin

Bolinas Health Fair (Flu Vaccines)
Thursday, November 2, 3-7 PM
Bolinas School
125 Olema Rd. Bolinas CA 94924
*Flu for everyone 6 months and older

Tomales Health Fair (COVID + Flu Vaccines)
Thursday, November 9, 3-7 PM
Tomales Elementary
40 John St. Tomales CA 94971
*Flu vaccinations for everyone 6 months and older
*COVID vaccinations for Medi-Cal and Uninsured

San Geronimo Health Fair (COVID Vaccines)
Tuesday, November 14, 3-6 PM
San Geronimo Valley Gym
1 Lagunitas School Rd. San Geronimo CA 94963
*Flu vaccinations for everyone 6 months and older
*COVID vaccinations for Medi-Cal and Uninsured

West Marin Pharmacy (RSV & Flu Vaccinations)
11 4th St, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
call 415 663 1121 to make an appointment

West Marin Medical Center
11150 CA-1, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
(vaccinations for patients only)

Coastal Health Alliance
3 6th St, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
88 Mesa Rd, Bolinas, CA 94924
(vaccinations for patients only)

See all four health fair dates in English and Spanish
See more vaccination locations in Marin County in English and Spanish
 
*Update*
Thanks to a shipment from CDPH we are able to continue our free COVID test distribution until early December
 

Free Take-Home COVID Rapid Testing
West Marin Locations Here


If you are symptomatic please test and retest 2-3 days after symptoms start. This is important since the initial test can sometimes be negative, then turn positive in the coming days. If you have been exposed and are not symptomatic, mask and test 2-5 days after exposure.

West Marin Community Services and San Geronimo Valley Community Center distribute tests and masks to local organizations. If you are a business in need of tests or masks, please get in touch with Seamus Tomkins at 415-663-8361 ext. 302
 
 

Get four free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests this fall on COVIDTests.gov

Every U.S. household may place an order to receive four free COVID-⁠19 rapid tests delivered directly to your home.

Order Free At-Home Tests

Need help placing an order for your at-⁠home tests?
Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).
 
Steps to take if you test positive for COVID 19

There are safe and effective treatments for COVID 19 and they work best when started early. Seek treatment even if your symptoms are mild. Learn more in English and Spanish
 
Spanish Speaking Emotional Support Group

Join our support group for mental and emotional well-being. In this group, you will find a meeting space for the Hispanic community where support is given for situations and challenges that we are constantly going through, in a safe and confidential environment. In this group, practical and simple tool will also be shared to increase resilience, manage emotions in an intelligent way and lessen the effects of stress and trauma in the body and mind.

When: The 2nd and 4th Monday of every Month

Where: Point Reyes Health and Human Services (Multi-Service Center)
1, 6th Street, Point Reyes Station, CA

For more Information call: 415 496 5680
See flyer in Spanish
 

For more local information on COVID, Medical Providers, Disaster Councils and Disaster Preparation, See our Quick Links page
 

 
Copyright © 2023 Community Response Team (West Marin) c/o West Marin Community Services, All rights reserved.