Melting snow reveals discarded needles

A Thunder Bay woman says her experience in a south-side neighbourhood serves as a warning to parents.

Sandy Hay said she wanted to enjoy the sunny weather last weekend, but when she took her six-year-old daughter and one-year-old granddaughter on a walk, they came across three syringes lying on the ground, at the corner of Ridgeway and Norah Streets.

"I can't even go for a walk with my kids because I'm fearing that they're going to be coming across this kind of stuff," Hay said.

She added that, although she's seen used needles before, she didn't know what to do.

A passer-by later helped her discard them.

Low risk of infection

Rick Thompson, who works for Superior Points — a group that safely disposes of used needles — has tips for anyone who finds a used syringe.

"The risk of catching anything is quite low," Thompson said. "If you do handle it yourself, wear a glove or something like that. Stay as far away from the sharp end as possible and dispose of it in a plastic bottle."

Thompson said people can call Superior Points to pick it up, or put it in a sharps container.

He noted that, this year, the health unit has added two more needle disposal bins, one on the north side and one in the east end of Thunder Bay. And the group plans to install another bin this year.

"We do see an increase in the amount of publicly discarded needles we find, some that have been left over the wintertime," Thompson said. "It takes us about a month or so to catch up and get us down to our regular amount that we would be called for."

Superior Points is open Monday through Friday. If you find a used needle, you can phone them at 624-2005.