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New program lets residents dispose of sharps safely
Improper or incorrect disposal of sharps (such as syringes with needles used for insulin and other medications, and lancets used to test blood), can place other residents and waste man- agement workers at substantial health risk.

Now, residents of Lake County who can't afford to purchase sharps' disposal containers at local pharmacies can receive free containers in which to safely dispose of their sharps, by visiting any staffed Lake County fire station.

The Lake County Department of Public Safety with the cooperation of the Lake County Department of Environmental Services and LRMC has introduce the Sharps Disposal Program. According to LRMC,Sharps are just one category of biohazardous waste, which includes needles, scalpel blades, glass and pipettes that are used or contaminated with bodily fluids. Public Safety recently purchased 500 of the Voyager containers and is in the process of distributing them to 14 fire stations across the county. These containers are easy for residents to use and help prevent puncturing or lacerating injuries.

Each container can hold more than 120 individual 1cc insulin syringe needles and accepts most lancets.The Voy- ager container is safe to throw away with household trash.

For more information about the program, call Jack Fillman, Lake County Fire Rescue Chief of Emergency Medical Services and Education, at (352) 343-9458.