Many areas in England have needle and syringe programmes that provide free supplies of clean needles and advice on disposing of used needles safely. Contact your local pharmacy or drug treatment service to find out if there's a programme in your area.
Page last reviewed: 25 October Next review due: 25 October Home Common health questions Accidents, first aid and treatments Back to Accidents, first aid and treatments. How should I dispose of used needles or sharps? Used needles Used needles must not be bent or broken before disposal, and you must never try to recap a needle. Using a needle clipper You can use a clipper to snap off a needle or the sharp part of a syringe.
Using your sharps bin You can use your sharps bin to dispose of medical supplies such as: needles syringes lancets used with finger-pricking devices clippers Put needles or similar medical supplies into the sharps bin immediately after using them and do not try to take them out again. Disposing of your full sharps bin Arrangements for disposing of full sharps bins vary depending where you live. Do not use other bins Do not put used needles or other sharps in: any type of household bin for example, a general rubbish bin or a recycling bin a container that's no longer needed, such as a drinks can or bottle Needles can cause injuries.
Viruses that can be passed on through contact with needles include: HIV hepatitis B hepatitis C Needles for medicine If you use needles to inject medicine, it's your responsibility to dispose of them safely.
For example, if you have: diabetes and use a syringe, injection pen or insulin pen for insulin injections a severe allergy for which you may need to inject adrenaline epinephrine from a preloaded syringe or injection pen Needles used for illegal drugs Reusing a needle to inject illegal drugs carries a high risk of catching a serious blood-borne infection. There are two common treatment methods.
The most frequent method for treating sharps is autoclaving , which uses a timed, high-temperature, high-pressure steaming process to neutralize any infectious agents. In certain cases, such as when sharps are contaminated with trace chemotherapeutic waste, incineration is required. This involves subjecting the waste to high temperatures that promote combustion or burning. The remaining ash is then sent to a landfill for disposal.
Several federal bodies regulate various aspects of sharps waste management. OSHA regulations cover topics like proper waste containers, staff training, and injury reporting. At the state level, other regulatory authorities have further rules relating to sharps waste. When developing or refining a sharps waste management program, be sure to check state regulations first and then examine the federal ones to make certain a program is in full compliance.
A strong sharps disposal program can preserve staff and patient safety while safeguarding the environment. By working with a knowledgeable medical waste management expert, healthcare organizations can be sure they have the proper equipment, training and resources to support consistent and reliable sharps disposal, keeping their people, facilities and communities safe.
To learn more about how Stericycle can enhance and support your sharps management and waste program, visit our sharps management service page. Fill out the form or call to start protecting your business today. December 14, What Are Sharps? There are many kinds of sharps found in healthcare organizations, including: Hypodermic needles Syringes, such as insulin syringes for diabetic patients Scalpels Lancets Wires, including dental wires How to Prevent Sharps Injuries When a contaminated sharp penetrates the skin, such as through a puncture or cut, there is a risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission.
If a sharps injury is not immediately addressed, the injured person could become very sick. How to Dispose of Needles and Other Sharps Sharps should be placed in a specially designed sharps container after use.
How to Dispose of Sharps Containers Once a sharps container is full, it should be removed from the healthcare facility and transported and disposal by a medical waste management expert. The container should be leak-resistant, remain upright during use and have a tight fitting, puncture-resistant lid, such as a plastic laundry detergent container.
Household containers should also have the basic features of a good sharps disposal container described below. Sign up to receive email updates on medical device recalls, safety communications, and other safety information. Disposal of Sharps by Health Care Facilities The information on this page is intended for use by consumers, including patients, family members, and home health caregivers to address disposal of used needles and other sharps used at home, at work, and when traveling.
Subscribe to Medical Device Safety and Recalls Sign up to receive email updates on medical device recalls, safety communications, and other safety information.
0コメント