A recent social media post indicated discarded hypodermic syringes were found on public property in Vankleek Hill. The Review contacted the Hawkesbury Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and inquired if police were aware of any discovery or incidents involving discarded syringes in Vankleek Hill. According to the response received, no such incidents have been reported.
Aside from their obvious medical uses by professionals and by individuals who must self-administer medications such as insulin, hypodermic syringes are often used by illegal drug users. Contaminated syringes from drug use can be a source of transmission of hepatitis and HIV.
The Review contacted the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) and asked for information about what citizens should do if they find a syringe—also known as a sharp, on public property, or on their own property.
The EOHU encourages the community to contact their local municipality if they are unsure how to handle a sharp on their property, or to report sharps on public property.
The response from the OPP was the same. Citizens who find a syringe should contact bylaw enforcement to investigate as it is not considered a police matter. It is not necessary to notify police about the discovery either.
The EOHU recommends that if youth find sharps, do not touch them, and to notify an adult who can report the finding and handle them safely.
Private property owners are responsible for removing discarded needles or similar paraphernalia from their property.
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The EOHU has also provided the following instructions about how to safely pick up and discard syringes.
- Wear thick rubber gloves or poke-resistant gloves.
- Use pliers or tongs to pick up the needle with; never pick a needle up with your bare hands.
- Using the pliers or tongs, pick the needle up with the sharp/needle end facing down and away from you.
- Place needle into a sharps container, hard plastic container (i.e. water bottle or pop bottle) or a glass container and secure the lid.
- Bring the container to an EOHU office during business hours. Local offices are located in Hawkesbury, Alexandria, Casselman, and Rockland. For information on hours, go to https://eohu.ca/en/contact-us.
A sharps disposal container can be picked up from any EOHU office. When full, the containers may be taken to an EOHU office during opening hours for safe disposal. Some pharmacies may also accept sharps containers.
The EOHU emphasizes that anyone injured by a hypodermic syringe found on public or private property requires immediate medical attention.
