PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department is working to respond to the public’s concern about abandoned needles.
“All of them are contaminated with blood or could be contaminated with blood and they’re all to be treated suspiciously. We just want to that make sure people know there’s an avenue for removal for it,” said Carrie Brainard, the department’s public information specialist.
On July 28, the MOVHD board passed a needle-syringe removal policy in which sanitarians and other staff members will be taught how to safely and properly dispose needles in the community.
Several calls have been coming in to MOVD with reports of used needles being left in public places, private businesses and residential sites where public harm could occur from contact, Brainard said.
“It is a public health issue and therefore, we should be responsible for assisting with that,” she said. “We don’t want people just randomly picking them up.”
Employee training workshops got underway last week at all six of the MOVD’s offices in Calhoun, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt and Wood counties.
Brainard said they also want to inform the public about basic universal precautions and correct storage techniques.
“If they want to remove it themselves or they don’t want to wait for the health department to get there — how to do it safely and properly,” she said.
It’s unclear how many needles have actually been abandoned, so Brainard said they’ll find out as they go along.
“We’re trying to promise the community that at the very least, within 24 hours, we will have it taken care of,” she said.
To learn more about the policy, visit MOVHD.com.