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Lowell Board of Health approves tattoo apprentice license, hears opioid and EMS updates
Summary
At its March 4 meeting the Lowell Board of Health approved a tattoo‑only apprentice license for Maria Estudillo at Black Sheep Inc., and received reports showing heavy bystander use of Narcan, stable EMS capacity and lower flu vaccination rates than last season.
The Lowell Board of Health on March 4 approved a body‑art apprentice license and heard reports on opioid response, emergency‑medical services capacity and vaccination trends.
Board members voted to approve a tattoo‑only apprentice license for Maria Estudillo, whose application for Black Sheep Inc., on Dutton Street, was reported by staff to be complete. Board members asked whether required certifications — including bloodborne‑pathogen training and basic life support (BLS) — were current; staff said the outstanding items would be completed and confirmed the apprentice’s hepatitis B documentation and first‑aid certifications will be updated before practice. The motion to approve carried in the board’s vote.
The board also received the January opioid report and a 15‑year study summary from a local responder. Tracy, an EMS representative who presented ambulance and overdose data, said that in 2025 "41 percent of all overdoses" in Lowell saw the first dose of Narcan administered by a bystander or family member, and noted that figure has risen from about 10 percent a decade earlier. The presenter described January as a relatively quiet month for Narcan uses compared with summer spikes, and urged continued community training and availability of Narcan.
On EMS operations, the presenter said the local system met a 90.8% performance target and described an incident period when up to 10 ambulances responded to concurrent emergency calls without requiring outside mutual aid. The presenter also noted five instances in the period where response to a patient exceeded 12 minutes; none of those cases required advanced airway management or intubation, and several were lower‑acuity transports.
The health director reported epidemiology and vaccination numbers, saying the community’s flu and COVID vaccination rate this season is about 32 percent compared with roughly 37 percent the prior season. Staff described outreach at school events and said the health department has begun offering adult vaccines (MMR, tetanus, varicella, polio) for uninsured patients.
Other routine business included a presentation of next year’s Central Mass Mosquito Project contract and budget for mosquito control, an FYI air‑quality report for Lowell High School, an update that 20 municipalities have banned Kratom with more considering bans, and an announcement of a medication take‑back day at the senior center on Broadway Street that accepts pills, syringes and medical devices with no residency requirement.
Votes at a glance - Accept minutes of the Feb. 4 meeting — motion made and seconded; chair recorded assent (Mister Baver: "aye"); outcome: approved. (Proceedings: call to order and minutes acceptance) - Approve body‑art apprentice license for Maria Estudillo, Black Sheep Inc. — motion made by a board member, seconded; roll‑call vote read by staff with affirmative responses recorded; outcome: approved. (Proceedings: application review and vote)
The board adjourned after routine department reports. Staff said they will follow up on outstanding certifications related to the apprentice license and will circulate copies of the 15‑year opioid study on request.
