Dealing Safely With A Discarded Needle
The safety and wellbeing of Peterborough residents is a key
priority for the SaferPeterborough partnership. With this in mind,
we ask: Would you know what to do if you found a needle or
syringe?
The main message is DO NOT TOUCH a discarded
needle, syringe or other injecting equipment. Children should be
advised to tell a responsible adult, such as a teacher, police
officer or parent as soon as possible.
Your first action should be to report it to the city
council on (01733) 747474, who have a dedicated syringe
removal service. The team operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm
and you can reach them out of hours by calling (01733) 864157.
If there is a need for you to remove the needle immediately, for
example if it is found near a children’s play area or somewhere it
is likely to cause injury, the following guidance is
recommended:
- Do not touch the needle with your bare hands
- If possible, wear heavy duty gloves and pick up the needle
using tongs at arm’s length. Never use scissors
- Alternatively, carefully sweep the needle into a dustpan,
sweeping away from your body
- Needles should be picked up by the middle of the barrel and
placed needle-end first into a plastic or metal container,
preferably something with a lid. If necessary, use a hard plastic
bottle or drinks can
- Do not dispose of it down a drain; place it in a normal
dustbin; or attempt to flush it down the toilet
- Once in a safe container, take it to your local pharmacy for
safe disposal
- Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards
What to do if you get pricked by a discarded needle
If you are accidentally pricked by a needle, ensure the wound
bleeds and wash it immediately with soap and water. Cover the wound
with a waterproof dressing and seek emergency medical advice as
soon as possible.
The SaferPeterborough partnership works with needle exchanges to
promote safe disposal of needles and injecting equipment in our
city. Needle exchanges give out small portable needle bins to
people who need them and there are a number of community needle
bins to help people dispose of their injecting equipment
safely.
If you have any concerns about discarded needles, call (01733)
747474 and ask for the SaferPeterborough team or email saferpeterborough@peterborough.gov.uk.