The sight of a needle is enough to make a person weakened or faint. Many people have a great fear when it comes to needles and injections and would just prefer to not be bothered with it. However, there are some types of illnesses or medical conditions that warrant the use of needles on a frequent basis, some as often as two to three times a day. When this is the case, there can potentially be an assortment of needles lying around if they are not disposed of properly, in a person’s home or even in their beds.
Hypodermic needles are very sharp and very pointed since their job is to pierce the skin and adequately deliver the medicine in the vial. Used hypodermic needles that have already pierced a person’s body and entered into their skin contain small particles of the person’s skin and blood and any other contaminants that may be present in their system.
Used hypodermic needles are a haven for germs and bacteria, and also a breeding ground for attracting any other airborne contaminants since it is exposed after being used. Properly and safely disposing of used needles is a good habit to develop in order to offset any other medical issues.
- Use a Sharp container to insert the needle after use. This is the clear container with the red top that is used for this.
- Ensure that used needles in their disposed containers get to the right waste facility.
- Immediately handle the needle after using and don’t lay it down somewhere, taking the risk that it will be forgotten.
Facilities like doctor’s offices and individuals who use needles frequently would do well to adopt practices that will help them remove them safely. It is not hard to do, but taking a little extra time to ensure the safe disposal of the needles can make a big difference in a person’s health state.
Handling hypodermic needles is very serious and should be handled with caution and care. Many people don’t realize the results of mishandling hypodermic needles and oftentimes end up with ailments or a sickness that could have been avoided with proper education and needle application.
The medical facility in emergency room units, laboratories and many veterinary clinics are some of the more common places known for high risks of getting injuries from needles. Patients who may require medications given through needle injections are often given this medical attention by the same nurse or physician’s assistant, therefore the practicing medical personnel should take caution against injuries since they are exposed to needles on a daily, frequent basis.
One way to reduce any exposure to an infection from a hypodermic needle is to never remove the cap from the needle until it is ready to be used. That means literally standing over or right next to the patient as you prepare to inject them with the medication in the syringe. When the needle cap is removed, it will go directly into the patients body, so there’s less of a chance of the needle becoming infected if it’s not exposed.
Reducing infection exposure can also be done by using only one needle, per patient, per episode. Even if the patient is receiving multiple injections of the same medication in their body, it’s best to have several syringes available than to reload the syringe with medicine. Each time the needle is exposed to the elements (air, bacteria, germs), it transfers that directly to the injection surface, and can cause problems. This is one of the main reasons why it is suggested that the point of entry on the patients body is cleaned and sterilized with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol or any other bacteria eliminating solution.
Practicing good measures while using hypodermic needles is the key to avoiding infections and other medical issues. The same rules apply as well involving washing your hands thoroughly and using gloves for each episode of exposure to the patients skin. Immediately after the needle is used, it should be discarded in the proper containers and disposed immediately.
