Needlesticks are not just the fear of 4-year-olds receiving their vaccinations; they are also the source of blood-borne infections afflicting millions of healthcare practitioners. When a conventional needle is left exposed after use on a patient, it can accidentally stick another person, such as a healthcare worker. The accidental needlestick can infect that person if the patient had any blood-borne diseases. Recent estimates place the number of needlestick injuries in the United States at more than 300,000 per year, with infection by HIV or Hepatitis as possible consequences. The spring-retractable syringe, VanishPoint, was created to prevent needlestick injuries and ameliorate other unsafe injection practices.

Victoria recently saw three people pricked by hypodermic needles in the span of a week.  One of those incidents was found to be a case of someone injecting themselves for medical purposes, one saw a woman pricked while brushing a paper bag containing a needle out of her dog’s mouth. In the third case, a woman was pricked by a needle placed sharp-side up in a planter, then found another needle in a similar spot a week later, likely put there by someone with malicious intent.

With the proliferation of opioid use in the United States, first responders need access to personal protective equipment to reduce the risk of needlesticks.

Tips and resources to help prevent first responder needlesticks during medical calls and at emergency scenes.

Many residents come into a senior living facility without a proper understanding of sharps management, increasing the risk for staff injury.

When it comes to workplace safety, the goals of employers and workers are not mutually exclusive, said the Department of Labor's Susan Harthill at the American Bar Association’s Occupational Safety and Health Law Midwinter Meeting.

SWANA and EREF signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on these types of projects last fall and this is one of the first to come out of it. This latest project presents a good opportunity for applying the two organizations' expertise on safety and research to a topic that is often discussed more anecdotally. The presence of any needles in the recycling stream is a cause for concern, but not every incident results in a worker being injured and it will be helpful to document more accurate numbers. With this information, and a better understanding of how existing regulations such as the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act apply to the industry, new polices on personal protective equipment or safe material handling can be dispersed to the workers who need it. Recent reports have shown that needles are an issue for industry workers from Maine to Pennsylvania to Arkansas and likely many other states.

The VanishPoint Blood Collection Set, from Retractable Technologies, Inc., features automated in-vein retraction that effectively reduces the risk of needlestick injuries and blood exposure.  The safety mechanism is activated by depressing a retraction trigger that is located near the finger-grip area.  This allows for easy one-handed activation, without changes in hand position, while reducing the risk of inadvertent activation.  The needle is retracted directly from the patient, virtually eliminating exposure to the contaminated needle.

By now, you've probably heard of microneedling — a process in which a specialized device is used to create microscopic holes in the skin — and its potential skin-smoothing, scar-reducing, and pigment-fading benefits. And while the treatment has become a highly popular request at the dermatologist's office, many are seeking ways to perform the treatment in the comfort of their own homes, too. Because of this, the Food and Drug Administration might soon be stepping in. The agency recently announced it wants to begin regulating the use of at-home microneedling devices due to perceived risks — here's what you need to know.

Today we take a look at all of the measures the medical environment takes to protect their staff and everyone else they care for. We don’t think of hospitals as being particularly dangerous or hostile. Research labs are also considered fairly mild-mannered. However, we forget how much safety gear and protocol is in place to protect the scientists, staff, and patients alike. Scientists, technicians, nurses, patients, and other supporting staff are all exposed to situations in which they can be severely harmed or contract a dangerous disease.

Unnao Police have arrested the quack allegedly responsible for infecting over 75 people with the HIV virus by using a single syringe on them. After detection of 29 more HIV positive cases, which included six children, the state government directed Anti-Retrovial Test (ART) Centre, Kanpur, to begin treatment of the infected villagers.

An epidemic is when an infectious disease spreads within a community or area. Learn about the biggest outbreaks in United States history and how we’ve overcome them. 

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Built-in safety mechanism is activated by fully depressing plunger while needle is still in patient 

 

Once activated, needle is automatically retracted from patient, virtually eliminating exposure

 

One-handed activation 

 

Requires minimal training

 

Non-reusable

 

Safe, efficient disposal

 

Color coded for gauge size

 

1cc, 3cc, 5cc, and 10cc syringe sizes available, in a variety of needle gauges and lengths.