With the arrival of the warm weather, outdoor playtime and visits to the nearby playground multiply. The melting snow may have left behind a variety of objects, including used syringes, which can sometimes be found in parks, playgrounds, schoolyards, in garbage cans, on sidewalks or simply in the street. It’s important to know that a syringe found in the wild can represent a danger. <\/p>\n
Some viral diseases can be transmitted by a puncture with the hollow needle of a syringe or any other material containing blood belonging to a virus-carrying person. <\/strong>Blood is a means of transmitting certain viruses. In the event of accidental pricking on a used syringe, the risk of transmission of the HIV\/AIDS virus is low, but not non-existent. On the other hand, the risk of transmission of the hepatitis B and C viruses is greater. The main victims of accidental needlestick injuries are children and certain workers. <\/p>\n Even if the risk of viral contamination is low, accidentally pricking yourself on a syringe can cause injury and anxiety. Such incidents should be taken seriously. <\/p>\n What to do in the event of an accidental bite?<\/strong><\/p>\n Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, and apply a bandage. Seek prompt medical attention in an emergency room, if possible within two hours. At the reception desk, mention that you’ve been pricked with a used syringe. <\/p>\n What to do if you find a used syringe?<\/strong><\/p>\n The first thing to do is to prevent others from touching it. If you have to pick it up yourself, take it carefully and put it in a container. Contact the Info-Sant\u00e9 telephone service at 811 to find out how to dispose of the syringe. <\/p>\n Never dispose of used syringes in the trash or in a recycling bin, but take them to a pharmacy or CLSC instead.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Minist\u00e8re de la Sant\u00e9 et des Services Sociaux provides a downloadable fact sheet:<\/strong> http:\/\/publications.msss.gouv.qc.ca\/msss\/fichiers\/2014\/14-316-01WF.pdf<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With the arrival of the warm weather, outdoor playtime and visits to the nearby playground multiply. The melting snow may have left behind a variety of objects, including used syringes, which can sometimes be found in parks, playgrounds, schoolyards, in garbage cans, on sidewalks or simply in the street. It’s important to know that a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1175,"featured_media":90437,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[164],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-120372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-non-classifiee"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n