Safe disposal makes needle-stick injuries a preventable health risk

Every year, millions of people throughout the country use hypodermic needles and syringes to manage their medical conditions at home.

That makes finding ways to safely dispose of those used medical sharps an important public health priority, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

If you think they can just be tossed in the trash or flushed down the toilet, think again.

Improper management of discarded needles and other sharps, which potentially have disease-carrying blood or other bodily fluids on them, can pose a health risk to the public as well as sanitation and sewage treatment workers, IEPA officials said. Janitors and housekeepers also risk injury if loose sharps poke through plastic garbage bags.

At home, children, adults, and even pets are at risk for needle-stick injuries when sharps are disposed improperly.

And even if no infection or disease was spread, victims of sharps-related injuries face the cost of post-injury testing, disease pre­vention measures, and counseling, IEPA officials said. Some diseases can take a long time to appear on test results, leading to months of testing and apprehension.

Prevent the health risks associated with needle-stick injuries by taking specific action.

Many areas have collection sites such as local doctors’ offices, hospitals, health clinics, pharmacies, health departments, community organizations, police and fire stations and medical waste facilities, according to the IEPA.

To find a needle disposal location near you, visit http://www.safeneedledisposal.org.

For more information or any other questions, please visit Advanced Disposal at www.advanceddisposal.com.