Poking around needle safety: Saskatoon Fire Department safely picking up discarded needles for over 20 years

In 1998, the Saskatoon Fire Department, in partnership with Public Health Services Saskatoon, launched a needle pick-up program. Over the past 20 years hundreds of thousands of discarded needles have been collected through the program, contributing to the safety and cleanliness of Saskatoon’s public spaces; close to 7,500 of which have been picked-up by Firefighters in 2018 alone.

Each year, Firefighters with the Saskatoon Fire Department are dispatched to various locations around the city to address reports of improperly discarded needles. “The pick-up of improperly discarded needles is most often completed on a per-call basis; that is, for the Saskatoon Fire Department to dispatch a crew to collect the needle, we must first be made aware of its location.” says Joshua Grella with the Saskatoon Fire Department. Crews ranging from two to five Firefighters may be dispatched to reports of improperly discarded needles, depending on the operating district of the call.

If you are accidentally poked by a needle’s point:

• Encourage bleeding and place your hand under running water to flush out the wound,
• Do not suck on the wound, even if a water supply is unavailable,
• Take note of the characteristics of both the needle and injury,
• Do not attempt to recap the needle,
• Visit a hospital emergency department as soon as possible, and
• If possible, safely package the needle in a hard-surfaced contained and take it with you to the emergency department.

Be sure to educate children and vulnerable adults about needle safety, instructing them to never touch a discarded needle and to notify a responsible adult immediately if one is encountered.

Never leave your discarded needles poking around; needles that are not safely disposed of can cause harm to others in the community, including workers, children, and pets.

In an emergency, call 911 immediately.