Proper syringe disposal improves towns BY CHRISTINA HURST
There are many medical conditions that require sharps use in the home setting. Sharps are defined as hollow needles, lancets, auto injectors, infusion sets and connection needles/sets. Sharps may be used at home, at work and while traveling to manage the medical conditions of people or pets. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 3 billion used needles and other sharps must be disposed of outside health care settings each year. People who use sharps in the home setting are trained by the medical providers about how they can dispose of their used sharps. Unfortunately, individuals who use needles and syringes to inject illegal drugs may not be as careful about disposing of used sharps due to fear of being arrested for carrying drug paraphernalia. Illegal drug users are more likely to leave used sharps in public places than individuals who use sharps for medical use. Needles and other sharps can be a danger to people and pets if not disposed of properly. Used sharps can transmit blood-born infections such as Hepatitis and HIV. How can you tell if a sharp you found in a public setting is contaminated? You can’t, so assume all used sharps are contaminated.
HOW TO DISPOSE OF SYRINGES/SHARPS IN THE HOME SETTING To dispose of used sharps in a home setting for medical conditions Clallam County Health and Human Services recommends using the soda bottle method. NEEDLES continued on Page 14 >>
Photo provided by Peninsula Daily News
Iva Burks, director the Clallam County Health and Human Services Department, holds up plastic water bottles containing used syringes. The department has urged needle-users to place their syringes in the containers for safer handling.
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