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By Ben Tompkins

Sharps Hazards

Melfort Fire Department reminds citizens how to safely deal with dirty needles

May 8, 2023 | 2:15 PM

Now that the warmer weather has melted all the snow and many people are undergoing spring cleaning, the chances of encountering discarded needles have increased substantially.

Those at risk include children playing and exploring local trails and parks who find a needle, someone looking through garbage containers for bottles, a park maintenance worker, a ‘Good Samaritan’ who finds a needle and carries it with them to find a safe place to dispose of it. City workers such as a waste disposal workers who may get poked by needles hidden in garbage bags, and a housekeeper or janitor cleaning washrooms are also at risk.

With that in mind, the Melfort Fire Department wants to remind the public about the do’s and do not’s of handling such items, as well as proper disposal and what to do if you have been poked.

• Do place used needles and other sharps in a ‘sharps disposal container’.
• When a ‘sharps disposal container’ is not available, a non-puncture-resistant container made of thick opaque plastic (like a bleach bottle) can be used for disposing of the sharps waste.
• Only fill the container three-quarters full, screw the top on tightly, secure the top with tape and place it into a garbage bag for disposal with your household garbage. Also, ensure your hand is not at risk of a poke by hanging onto the container.
• Do, keep all needles and other sharps and sharps disposal containers out of reach of children and pets.
• Do pick up sharps with leather gloves, tweezers or tongs, never with your bare hands, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after disposal, and always point the needle or sharp part away from you.
• Meanwhile, don’t throw loose sharps in the trash, toilet, recycling, or on the ground.
• Don’t try to remove, bend, break or recap needles used by another person, as this can lead to accidental needle sticks, which may cause serious infections.
• And, don’t attempt to remove the needle without knowing the proper steps to pick it up and dispose of it safely, and if you are unsure, call the needed response numbers.

Numbers include the Provincial Emergency Call Center (PECC) at (306) 953-4284, which is a 24/7 call line, or the Melfort Ambulance Care at (306) 752-4395 and Melfort City Hall/Fire Department at (306) 752-5911.

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Be Smart With Sharps also explains how to use a sharps container, which includes checking it for hazards, reading all the labels, making sure the container isn’t overfilled or damaged, putting the sharp in the container immediately after use and keeping your hands behind the sharp tip.

Finally, should you get poked, immediately wash the area with soap and water, allow the wound to bleed freely, do not squeeze the wound area as this can cause tissue damage and increase the uptake of the pathogen, do not wash the area with antiseptics or bleach as this can damage the healthy tissue, and go to your nearest emergency room immediately to seek health care attention.

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news@northeastnow.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8