Superior Points HRP - Canadian Harm Reduction Network

Handling a Syringe (including publicly discarded):1. Scan the area first for barriers and hazards (i.e., broken glass, treebranches, garbage, stairs, people, etc.).2. Ensure that the sharps container is on a secure surface. If a sharpscontainer is unavailable, use another non-breakable, punctureresistantcontainer, such as a thick plastic peanut butter jar.3. Wear proper gloves and use tongs to grasp the syringe by theplunger end or barrel.4. If tongs are not available, try not to grab the barrel as the needlecould be poking through it. Do not grab the tip of the needle, evenif it appears to be capped – the needle could be folded back andsticking out from the bottom of the cap.5. Hold the needle tip away from your body at all times. If possible, letthose around you know that you are handling a syringe.6. Carefully place the syringe into the sharps container needle tip first.7. Follow the same protocol when handling related injection supplies,such as syringe parts (caps, tips, barrels, plungers), ties, alcoholswabs and wrappers, and filters.8. Follow ALL universal precautions.Handling a Used Condom or Injection Equipment:1. Follow same protocols as for handling a syringe (see above).2. Always wear proper gloves and use tongs when available. Pick upthe condom from the open end and carefully place it into the sharpscontainer.3. In the absence of tongs, use a gloved hand to pick up a condom byclasping together the open end, when possible. Carefully place itinto the sharps container, along with the glove. In the absence of acontainer, remove the glove with the condom still held in it and put itin a suitable garbage can.SUPERIOR POINTS HARM REDUCTION PROGRAMProtocols for Staff, Volunteers and Community Agencies14