The Huron County Health Unit is reminding people to be careful picking up any sharp object that may be found in your environment.
Sharp objects, such as used needles, razor blades or any item that could cut skin should be handled carefully. Parents should tell children to never touch anything sharp and to tell an adult.
Adults can safely pick up a sharp object by the following steps:
- Get a free sharps container if you find a needle. Call the health unit at 519-482-3416 or after hours at 519-482-7077 to ask where in your community you can get the container and where you can take it when you have put the sharp object in.
- If that is not possible, bring a non-breakable, puncture proof container with a screw-top lid to where the sharp object is. Use a thick plastic jar, empty bleach bottle or water bottle.
- Use pliers, tongs or tweezers to pick up the object. If it is a needle, hold the needle tip away from you.
- Put the needle into the container needle end first.
- Close the container tightly.
- Wash your hands.
- Take the container to the site recommended by the health unit.
Like all health units in Ontario, the Huron County Health Unit offers a needle exchange program with community partners in the county. Needle exchange programs help ensure that injection drug users have access to sterile injection equipment to prevent transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases.
The health unit distributes thousands of free needles each year to Huron County residents who are injection drug users. The program is currently offered at three sites in the county. Used needles can be returned to the sites for safe disposal.