By Aaron Schulze

Melfort warns community of disposed needles after large clean up

Oct 15, 2018 | 4:50 PM

The City of Melfort and Melfort Fire Department have created brochures covering the dangers of disposed needles after eight were discovered and removed on MacLeod Avenue yesterday. 

It’s unknown whether the needles were used for medical reasons such as type one diabetes or used other purposes, but the Melfort Fire Department treated them as if they were contaminated.

Jason Everitt, Melfort Fire Chief, told northeastNOW members also discovered a needle a few weeks back.

“I don’t think there’s any communities that are immune from it,” Everitt said. “We just want people to be aware that they’re there and not to handle them if they don’t feel comfortable doing so.”

People who don’t feel comfortable with touching disposed needles in public can call the non-emergency 9-1-1 dispatch at 306-953-4284 to have a fire department member retrieve and properly dispose of it.

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Everitt said anyone who feels comfortable with removing a disposed needle should have safety gloves or tongs to pick the needle up by the barrel, not the point. Everitt also said not to try and put a cap on the needle if there isn’t one on.

Anyone picking up a disposed needle is asked to place it in a sharps container and not in the garbage or recycling.

The Melfort Fire Department asks anyone using needles for medical purposes to also put them in a sharps container after their use and give them to their physician or the hospital for proper disposal.

aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow