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Needle Safe Information

Discarded hypodermic needles have become a growing concern in Saskatoon. Too often they are found in parks, near playgrounds, and schools. The fear is that someone could be accidentally stuck by a needle infected with HIV, AIDS or Hepatitis. In 1998, Saskatoon Fire Department and Public Health Services Saskatoon jointly launched a needle pick-up program.

If you find a needle

Follow the steps below for safe pick up and disposal.

  • Do not recap the needle.
  • Wear garden, work or medical gloves.
  • Use tweezers, pliers or tongs to pick up by the end that is not the sharp end.  Keep away from your body.
  • Place the needle, sharp end first, into a hard container that needles cannot poke through (e.g. liquid laundry detergent or bleach container).
  • Fill a container no more than 3/4 full.  If the container is too full, the needles may poke through the side.
  • Put the container lid on tightly and tape it.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Store the container in a safe place away from children until you can dispose of it safely. 
  • Do not place needles in city garbage or recycling.
  • Place in a needle drop box in your community.  Call 306-655-4444 for needle drop box locations or view the  Needle Safe Brochure.
  • Call 306-655-4664 if you do not have these clean-up items.

Ensure children understand they should never pick up needles.

If they find a discarded needle, they should notify an adult immediately.

If you are not comfortable handling or disposing of the needle yourself, please call:

Saskatoon Fire Department 306-975-3030

Public Health Services Saskatoon 306-655-4444

If you suffer a needle stick injury:

  • encourage bleeding immediately and place your hand under running tap water to flush out the wound
  • do not suck on the wound even if water is not available
  • take careful note of the characteristics of the needle and injury (size, type, depth of penetration)
  • do not recap the needle
  • contact your doctor or hospital emergency department as soon as possible
  • package the needle in a hard-surfaced, enclosed container and take it to the emergency department with you