KAWARTHA LAKES-Phil Grant says he was walking on Lindsay Street by the Boys and Girls Club in Lindsay last Sunday when he saw a paper bag inside the bus shelter.

“I noticed a paper bag with uncapped needles along with rubber tourniquets and saline solution just laying open in the bus shelter,” Grant told Kawartha 411 News. “It was so close to the park where children run and play.”

It’s unclear who left the bag there or what the contents were being used for. Gavin says he reported it to Kawartha Lakes Police Service (KLPS)who said they would take care of it.

“Needles have been located by the public in places such as sidewalks, parking lots, vacant lots, parks, vacant apartments etc.” Sgt Deb Hagarty, KLPS says. “If community members are unsure how to or are uncomfortable disposing of found needs they can call police at 705-324-5252 to have them disposed of. When someone does call, an officer is dispatched and they will attend and pick up and safely dispose of needle(s) into a sharps container. Our police vehicles are equipped with sharps containers for safe disposal of any needles collected in the community.”

Grant says he is worried about his kids or pets finding something like this. 

Police say this is a good reminder for community members discuss this issue with your children and remind them never to touch a discarded needle.

The following instructions below have been provided by the health unit on how to safely collect and dispose of needles. The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit has prepared these instructions to ensure discarded needles are handled safely.

Safe Disposal of Found Needles

Treat all needles and crack pipes (glass stems) as contaminated.

Wear gloves (i.e. latex, rubber or leather). Gloves are meant to protect against fluid contamination, not punctures or cuts.

Use tongs, pliers or tweezers to pick up the needle. Be sure to clean and disinfect the pickup instrument afterwards.

Pick up the needle by the plastic end (syringe).

Point the needle tip away from your body. Be very careful not to poke yourself with the needle.

Put the sharps disposal container on a stable surface next to the needle. Do not hold the container in your hand while placing the needle inside.

Place the needle point down into the container. Do not force the needle into the container.

Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after removal of gloves.

Equipment Needed: Gloves Sharps disposal container Hand sanitizer Tongs/pliers/tweezers Disinfectant

Community members who use a small container to discard the syringe/needle into , such as a 2 L pop bottle, can dispose of the container in a community needle drop box, located at the HKPRDHU Lindsay office entrance, 108 Angeline St. south.

The City of Kawartha Lakes has a link on their website which lists a reminder for safe needle disposal; which has an additional like to enter an area to get a list of needle drop off sites. (Links below)

https://www.kawarthalakes.ca/en/news/reminders-for-safe-disposal-of-syringes-and-needles.aspx#:~:text=Hazardous%20waste%20found%20on%20public,are%20prohibited%20for%20curbside%20collection.

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