Okay to start with, what are needle/syringe injuries? Needle or syringe injuries are wounds caused by needles that accidentally pierce the skin. Injection of blood-borne viruses is the major hazard of needle stick injuries. Viruses like AIDS (HIV), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are some of the diseases spread due to unattended or disposed needles and sharp objects. The term “sharp” means objects or devices with sharp points, or cutting edges that are capable of cutting or piercing the skin.
So what precautions need to be taken when dealing with needle sticks and sharp objects? First of all, don’t place your hands into areas or objects you cannot see clearly because the sharp objects may be concealed in such places. Some of the examples of such places are over grown gardens, old beds and mattresses, rubbish bins, etc. Precautions like wearing gloves or using a pair of tongs should be taken when removing such sharp objects.
Do not manually compress rubbish bags in case they contain needles, syringes or any other sharp and dangerous objects. Use any compressing mechanism to compress such stuff or use any other object to help you with it (ex: a stick).
Always categorize your domestic and industrial waste into 3 parts: Dry waste, wet waste and chemical waste. Things like sharp objects of needles and syringes which are dangerous to human health fall in the third category i.e. chemical waste. And this chemical waste shouldn’t be touched or dealt with bare hands; it should be disposed with utmost care or preferably, call a professional cleaning service to handle it in a safe and a professional manner.
When any such dangerous objects are found in the open, it should be kept away from children. Never handle more than one item at a time while cleaning such objects; it might prick you and cause you harm. Finally, never play with sharp needles and syringes, trying to flick them or spin them for fun. It may be a contagious needle.
For professional assistance in sharp objects and needle cleaning call us on 042 741 1789 or visit us on http://www.bio-cleanse.com.au/.
