Sharp Finds

Safety guidelines for adults finding needles in public places

Guidance for the public

Discarded needles and syringes cause concern to community members due to the potential risk of injury to the finder.  If you do discover a discarded needle or syringe please:

• Contact our Waste Management team on 01782 232397.
• Report the find and arrange for a member of their team to collect the items within an agreed appropriate timescale

It is not advisable to handle discarded needles and syringes at all. However...

If you are concerned about immediate danger to a community member and you feel the need to remove the danger by collecting the needles, you must take care. In order to avoid/minimise the risk of injury please follow these simple steps:

• Do not touch needles or syringes with your hands.
• Sweep up needles and syringes with a dustpan and brush, making sure you sweep away from your body.
• Place the needles and syringes from the dustpan into a screw top jar or a strong plastic box with a lid.
• Keep contained needles and syringes in a safe place, out of children’s reach, until collected.

First Aid

If you accidentally puncture your skin with discarded needles or syringes:

• Encourage bleeding by squeezing gently.
• Do not suck the wound.
• Wash area with warm water and plenty of soap for at least five minutes.
• Visit the Accident and Emergency department of your local hospital immediately where you will receive advice about any necessary immunization.

Do not dispose of needles/syringes in the following ways:

• Down grids.
• In fireplaces.
• In toilets.
• In bins.

Telephone Stoke-on-Call 01782 234234 for out-of-hours city council services.

If you feel you have not received a satisfactory service in relation to the collection of the needles/syringes, please contact:

Stoke-on-Trent Drug and Alcohol Action Team on 01782 235708.