Fenris LorsraiCommented on thread on HIV testing at events, but here in main timeline for easy access.
Your local harm reduction service WANTS to come to the event you're running. A convention, parade, music festival, LARP, whatever! They want to reach more people that might never come to their location! Comp them a table at event.
Drop them an email or call with "I'm running an event on X date, Y location. I expect Z attendees. The demographic is Q." and they will likely show up ready to do STI snap tests, provide drug test kits for drinks, condoms, train people on NARCAN, and tell folks about support programs in area. Possibly even vaccinations, depending on population. Or clean needles. For free!
What services the group offers vary by region, but any midsize metro has one of more of them because prevention really is the best strategy.
It's part of their core services & getting out in public just requires inviting them in, like vampires. They are stealing your blood, afterall. :P
They also know how to do all that confidentially and securely. Harm reduction also meets people where they ARE & tries to nudge them towards one step to better health, not "stop doing all these things NOW". Have safer sex, check your drugs for fentanyl, here's NARCAN in case someone ODs. Keep folks alive & making better choices each day based on their risk tolerance.
Some may even have a full mobile set up in a van to do even more tests!
If they have a scheduling conflict and can't come, they often are happy to provide you with free condoms, drug test kits, brochures, and sharps containers.
If you're running an event and don't have a sharps container in the bathrooms.... consider grabbing some from the harm reduction folks. It helps keep everyone safe! (your local visiting nurse group may also be willing to give you sharps containers for free or wholesale cost) #eventplanning #conventions #harmreduction #STItesting #HIVtesting
Your local harm reduction service WANTS to come to the event you're running. A convention, parade, music festival, LARP, whatever! They want to reach more people that might never come to their location! Comp them a table at event.
Drop them an email or call with "I'm running an event on X date, Y location. I expect Z attendees. The demographic is Q." and they will likely show up ready to do STI snap tests, provide drug test kits for drinks, condoms, train people on NARCAN, and tell folks about support programs in area. Possibly even vaccinations, depending on population. Or clean needles. For free!
What services the group offers vary by region, but any midsize metro has one of more of them because prevention really is the best strategy.
It's part of their core services & getting out in public just requires inviting them in, like vampires. They are stealing your blood, afterall. :P
They also know how to do all that confidentially and securely. Harm reduction also meets people where they ARE & tries to nudge them towards one step to better health, not "stop doing all these things NOW". Have safer sex, check your drugs for fentanyl, here's NARCAN in case someone ODs. Keep folks alive & making better choices each day based on their risk tolerance.
Some may even have a full mobile set up in a van to do even more tests!
If they have a scheduling conflict and can't come, they often are happy to provide you with free condoms, drug test kits, brochures, and sharps containers.
If you're running an event and don't have a sharps container in the bathrooms.... consider grabbing some from the harm reduction folks. It helps keep everyone safe! (your local visiting nurse group may also be willing to give you sharps containers for free or wholesale cost) #eventplanning #conventions #harmreduction #STItesting #HIVtesting