Wilson & Hockenberry: Wong’s Clinical Manual of Pediatric Nursing, 8th Edition

Patient Teaching Guide

This section may be photocopied and distributed to families.

Source: Wilson D, Hockenberry MJ: Evolve resources for Wong’s clinical manual of pediatric nursing, ed 8. Copyright © 2012, Mosby, St Louis.

Safe Disposal of Needles and Lancets

The growing number of persons being cared for in home settings has increased the amount of medical waste that communities must properly dispose of to prevent accidental needle sticks and the spread of diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. Many states have programs to assist with the disposal of sharps such as needles and lancets to prevent environmental contamination and accidental mishaps involving needle exposures. Contact one of the resources listed later to obtain further information about needle disposal in your state, or discuss the proper disposal of sharp medical Equipment with your health professional.

If your state or community does not have programs for safe needle disposal, an option is to place sharps in a rigid container such as a bleach bottle or metal coffee can. Place the lid on the container to prevent accidental needle exposure. Once the container is about full and ready to be discarded, you may add to it a liquid mixture such as cement or plaster to harden the contents and prevent needle exposure. Special devices that break off the needle into a rigid container are also available in some communities.

Additional information can be found at any one of these resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/needledisposal; Coalition for Safe Community Needle Disposal, (800) 643-1643; and Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/wastes/nonhaz/industrial/medical/med-govt.pdf.

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