Health Unit and AIDS Committee Remind You to “Stay Sharp” as Snow Melts

NEWS RELEASE

NORTH BAY, ON - As temperatures get milder across the district, the melting snow can reveal improperly discarded sharps from over the winter months. The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) and the AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area (ACNBA) are asking residents to stay sharp and help keep the community clear of discarded sharps.

“We know when the snow starts melting, there can be a lot of garbage and debris left behind, including sharps,” explains Natalie Dupuis-Blanchfield, Community Health Promoter at the Health Unit. “Disposing of discarded sharps is similar to cleaning up winter garbage, but with a few extra precautions.”

The risk of contracting a blood-borne illness from a discarded sharp is extremely low, however, there are steps people can take to safely pick up and dispose of a sharp:

• Pick needles up carefully, by wearing gloves and/or using tongs.
• Stay as far away from the sharp end as possible and do not attempt to put the cap back on.
• Put the needles in a hard plastic container, like a water bottle, with the sharp end facing down.
• Seal the container tightly.
• Dispose of the container at a community sharps bin or at a local pharmacy.

It is important for sharps to be properly disposed of and not put in garbage cans or flushed down toilets. Community sharps bins can be found outside the following locations throughout the district:

• AIDS Committee of North Bay & Area (147 McIntyre St. W.)
• Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing (361 McIntyre St. E.)
• North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (345 Oak St. W.)
• Corner of Main St. and Queen St., Sturgeon Falls
• Corner of Seguin St. and Gibson St., Parry Sound

“We all have a role to play in creating safer communities, but we understand not everyone will feel comfortable picking up a sharp,” states Caitlin Dobratz, Hepatitis C Community Coordinator at ACNBA.

The Health Unit is offering Safe Sharps Handling and Disposal Training online throughout April and May. Businesses and community members looking for more information or to register for the training can visit myhealthunit.ca/Sharps.

The Health Unit also offers equipment to businesses to support safe needle disposal, and, like all public health units in Ontario, offers a needle syringe program with community partners in the district. Needle syringe programs help ensure that people who use injection drugs have access to sterile injection equipment to prevent transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases.

Quick Facts

• Needle syringe programs are proven to decrease sharps sharing, which helps decrease the transmission of disease amongst people who use drugs.
• According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use, needle syringe programs help to prevent significant health care costs incurred for the care and treatments of hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS and other injection drug use-related health concerns.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when people who inject drugs use a needle syringe program, they are more likely to enter treatment for substance use disorder and stop injecting compared to those who don’t access a needle syringe program.
• Needle stick injuries are low. The risk of infection from a need stick injury after exposure differs by pathogen:
  • Hepatitis B – 6 to 30 per cent
  • Hepatitis C – 1.8 per cent
  • HIV – 0.3 per cent
  • Additional considerations are the depth of the needle penetration, amount of viral load on the needle, when was the needle last used, and health and immune system of the person who is pricked.

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Media Inquiries:

Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: communications@healthunit.ca