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Needles and syringes

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Blood-borne viruses (BBVs) that can be transmitted from person to person:

  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Possible routes of transmission include:

  • sharing injecting equipment - this includes needles, syringes, water, swabs, filters, spoons, tourniquets and the drug mix
  • blood-to-blood contact - this may not be obvious and can occur in ways that are indirect. For example, by touching the injecting site of someone with hands that are contaminated with the blood of another person, or sharing personal items such as nail clippers, toothbrushes, tweezers and razors. Blood does not need to be visible for blood cells or virus to be present.

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Needlestick injury

  • A needlestick injury occurs when a person’s skin gets punctured or scratched by a used needle. This occurrence carries the risk of transmission of a BBV.
  • There are two types of needlestick injuries: those that may occur to health professionals in the course of their duties (e.g. drawing blood or injecting medication) and those that may occur in community settings (e.g. beaches and parks) due to improperly discarded needles and syringes.
  • Needles and syringes improperly discarded in the community may be of concern to the public, however, the risk of contracting a BBV from a community needlestick injury is very low. In Western Australia there has never been a documented case of a person contracting HIV, hepatitis C or hepatitis B from a needlestick injury in a community setting.
  • The risk of contracting a BBV from an environmental needle stick injury is extremely low because the needle has usually been exposed to the elements. The possibility of infection depends on the amount of blood left in the syringe and the relative freshness of the blood. Tetanus poses a greater risk, since tetanus spores live in the soil and may be transported into the body through broken skin. The tetanus virus, however, is very rarely contracted in Australia due to effective vaccination programs.

Prevention

  • Standard precautions: “all blood and body fluids of persons are considered as potential sources of infection regardless of the perceived risk” (Department of Education, 2005).

    Take extra care in any situations where blood or blood products may be involved. "If you see a needle stay away, tell an adult right away."

  • Don’t share toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, or jewellery such as earrings.
  • Avoid touching someone who is bleeding unless you are wearing gloves.
  • Do not participate in rituals such as "blood brothers and sisters".

What to do if you find a discarded needle and syringe

Students

  1. Do not be alarmed.
  2. Do not touch the needle or syringe.
  3. Report the finding to a teacher (if found at school) or another adult.

Teacher

  1. Find a rigid-walled, sealable container (e.g. soft-drink bottle) with a well-secured lid, preferably screw top. Avoid using glass, which can shatter, or aluminium that can be squashed.
  2. Do not attempt to recap the needle.
  3. Bring the container to the needle and syringe.
  4. Pick up the used needle and syringe by the blunt end (plunger end), away from the point. Do not touch the sharp point.
  5. Put the needle and syringe point first into the container. More than one can be placed in the container, but do not overfill. Do not carry the needle and syringe unless it is a suitable container.
  6. Make sure the container is tightly sealed.
  7. Put the sealed container in a domestic rubbish bin (mobile green bin). In Western Australia, small numbers of used needles and syringes can be disposed of through the council waste collection service. Do not put needles and syringes down toilets, in recycling bins or post boxes.
  8. Do not put needles in aluminium cans and then dispose of them in rubbish bins. People who collect cans may pick them up and a needlestick injury can occur as the needle can penetrate through the can.

First aid procedure

See the Department of Education First Aid for sickness and accidents in schools procedures.

  1. Where a needlestick injury is suspected, if possible, have the injured person stem his/her own blood flow and clean up the blood spill.
  2. Immediately wash the infected area gently and thoroughly with mild soap and clean running water for at least 30 seconds.
  3. Apply antiseptic and a sterile dressing to the wound.
  4. Place the needle and syringe in a rigid-walled plastic container as described above.
  5. Take the infected person and bottled needle and syringe to a medical practitioner or emergency department of the local hospital for BBV antibody testing.

All tests should be conducted within 24 hours of the injury occurring. Taking the bottled needle and syringe may help with documenting the nature and extent of the needlstick injury.

Remember: Do not panic, take reasonable care and follow the above steps. Tell children never to pick up a needle, but to tell an adult.

If you are regularly finding needles and syringes in a particular area, please contact your local government Environmental Health Officer.

Teaching tips

  • Students need to be taught not to touch needles or syringes they might find. They need to report the findings to a teacher (if found at school) or another adult.
  • Emphasise the importance of students to seek help from a trusted adult. Have students consider what action they would take if the adult whose help they sought said it was okay for them to touch (without protection) the blood or items that had blood on them. This can be practiced within a role play.
  • Remind students to take extra care in any situations where blood or blood products may be involved. “If you see a needle stay away, tell an adult right away."
  • Encourage students not to share toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, or jewellery such as earrings or participate in rituals such as "blood brothers and sisters".
  • Discuss that many diseases can be carried in blood or blood products. Mention that one of these diseases is hepatitis which affects the liver (show hepatitis and the liver animation). Briefly discuss that for some forms of hepatitis there is no vaccine or cure, however, for hepatitis B there is a vaccination which they should have when they are 12 years old. There is also a vaccination for hepatitis A that many people have when they are travelling to high risk areas such as third world countries. Currently there is no vaccination for hepatitis C.

Relevant GDHR learning activities

Early Childhood (years K-3) Middle Childhood (years 4-7) Early Adolescence (years 8-10)

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