Dumped syringe prompts warning

A mother of four says she was stunned to find a used syringe dumped in a walkway in suburban Orana.

The mother, who did want to be named, said she was walking with her children through the public access way, between Granada Crescent and Seville Way, when she saw the needle at the edge of the path.

“I walk through that alleyway a lot with my young children,” she said.

“When I saw it, I thought I would hate to think what would have happened if my child stepped on it,” she said.

The walkway is often used by children walking to school or nearby parks.

The resident said she did not want to touch the syringe in fear of catching a disease like hepatitis.

The City of Albany did not provide comment but pointed theAdvertiser to information on its website about safe syringe disposal.

It recommends people who find syringes dumped in public areas use a container with a well-secured lid, pick up the used syringe by the blunt end and place in the bottle.

The website also recommends that children should never pick up a needle, but rather tell an adult.

The Department of Health reports that most used syringes used to inject drugs are disposed of appropriately, however some used needles may be found in parks or other public places.

If syringes are found often in one area, report it to an environmental health officer.

Hepatits B vaccination will protect people if they are pricked by a needle.