On February 13, 2020 Michele Desmarais, Public Health Director City of Lynn spoke at the Rotary Club of Lynn. Michele shared with the Club that a current focus of the Health department is trying to help with the growing issue of vaping at the Middle School level in the city.
Even though vaping products are illegal for the students to purchase, they are obtaining them. Some are quickly becoming addictive to the heavy concentration of nicotine in the vaping pods. Some of the vaping devices look like a thumb-drive for a computer, they are easily concealed.
She spoke about the Opiate level of overdoses in the city, for the last three complete calendar years, the city has averaged 465 overdoses a year, with an average of 60 overdose deaths, a rate of about 13%. The use of Narcan has helped to reduce deaths, and she told the Club that every coach and athletic director has received Narcan training and carries Narcan with them to all games. Narcan is available at school buildings, athletic events and various city buildings.
We were advised that if we have not received a flu shot this season, it is not too late to get one. As an aside she mentioned that the city has contingent plans in place to deal with any serious outbreak of flu like illnesses. Think of the “normal” flu and the current Coronavirus.
