7 Do’s of Disposal of Sharps Containers
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) approximately 414.8 million people in the world have diabetes. By 2040, this number will increase to 641.7 million. Just in North America (with Caribbean) there were 44.3 million diabetics registered in 2015 and there will be, according to IDF prognosis 60.5 million in 2040. All of them have to use needles for self-medication and with them special sharps containers for their safe disposal. With so many sharps in use, the appropriate disposal of sharps containers is quickly becoming a concern and something you need to know about, whether you or someone close to you has diabetes.
With that in mind, a lot of people are not very well informed on how disposal of sharps containers should and how it should not be done. Since sharps used in health care often contain blood and blood-borne pathogens and may carry a number of transmittable diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and some others, it is necessary to know more about sharps containers and their proper disposal.
Do’s of Disposal of Sharps Containers
There are several “do’s” or things you need to know and do when using and throwing away sharps and sharps containers.
- Collect used sharps right away
The first of these is to never leave your used sharps lying around as you or someone else could get stuck or hurt otherwise. Make a habit, if you are using sharps yourself or are a doctor administering medication to other people, to immediately place the used sharps in a container.
- Re-cap or clip sharps after use
Needles usually come with a cap that you have to take off before puncturing the skin. When you are done using the needle put the cap back on or clip the needle with special scissors. Usually, most of the blood will be on the top of the needle, so this will reduce the chance of infection somewhat in case someone gets pricked.
- Use hard plastic containers
Hard plastic containers are best for sharps disposal, although you could use metal, or any other material that doesn’t bend, break, or won’t allow sharps to pierce or cut through it.
- Make sure the container is leak-proof and damage-resistant
This “do” pretty much leans on the previous one in that you have to make sure the container you are using can withstand some amount of damage (for instance, it shouldn’t bend under heavy waste) and it also should be able to contain any liquids (blood) inside.
- Ensure the container has a closable lid
The sharps container should also have a closable lid on top. Without it, it just won’t serve any purpose as the sharps inside could spill outside the first time the container gets tumbled.
- Know the law
Get yourself informed about the governing law for medical waste disposal in your country or state.
- Consider a mail-back
Used sharps shouldn’t be thrown away together with regular trash like food, paper or household waste. Consider a mail-back sharps disposal program. Usually, a quart-sized mail-back container will cost about $30-35, but hospitals and medical facilities typically get a discount for bulk order.
Disposal of sharps containers is an important concern for both individual and for health care facilities. We at Medical Waste Management (MWM) cater to the sharps disposal needs of both groups in Florida, USA. Whenever you need sharps containers removed safely, you can reach us at https://medicalwastefl.com/ or give us a call at 305-677-2343 and we’ll give you a FREE QUOTE and an excellent customer service.
