At some point the snow banks will disappear and the Spring clean-up will begin.
That is the time when discarded needles can be spotted in area communities.
Gillian Lunny is the Manager of Harm Reduction at the Northwestern Health Unit and she says they have free resources, training and equipment to local residents in the event they stumble upon a discarded needle.
Lunny also urges using gloves and tongs to pick up a needle and placing it in a hard-sided plastic container and if you find a discarded needle and aren’t comfortable picking it up, then you can simply call your local Health Unit office.
She says public health nurses will be going out throughout the region distributing educational materials and speaking to schools.
(Tips for safe needle pick-up)
-if possible use gloves and tongs to pick up the needle.
-never put the cap back on a needle.
-place the needle in a hard-sided plastic container, tightly seal and label “Needle”
-wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer after picking up a needle.
-return the needle to your local NWHU office.
-never put needles down the toilet, in drains or in the garbage.
-call your local NWHU office to pick-up needles safely if you can’t.
Spring is here and the snow is melting, click here to find out what to do if you find a needle or sharp object on the ground: https://t.co/FrPmHAhCcA #nep #safeneedledisposal #needle pic.twitter.com/siahQ93XkG
— The NWHU (@TheNWHU) March 27, 2018
