Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Huron County Health Unit
Be Sharp about Environmental Clean-Up
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 and adult.
Adults can safely pick up a sharp object by following these 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 inside
- 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 need, hold the needle tip away from you
- Put the needle in 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 need 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 disease.
Thea Health Unit distributes thousands of free needs each year to Huron County residents who are injection drug users. The program is currently offered at 3 sites in the county. Used needles can be returned to the sites for safe disposal.
Media Contact:
Angela Sturdy
Executive Assistant
519-482-3416 (11-877-837-6143) ext 2010
asturdy@huroncounty.ca
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