Preventing needle stick injuries

Needle stick injuries are common in medical offices. When people are working with needles, they need properly dispose of the needles so they do not contract any illness that person may be carrying like Hepatitis B, HIV, Hepatitis C, and other illnesses. Proper disposable and handling of the needles can easily prevent needle stick injuries from occurring.

Around 800,000 health workers are injured by patient needles. These injuries can occur in dental offices, health clinics, hospitals, and other medical offices. Sadly about 2,000 workers will test positive for Hepatitis C because of a needle stick injury. 35 workers will contract AIDS and 400 employees will contract Hepatitis B.

Most of the needle stick injuries are caused from workers that are trying to recap the needle. The best rule is to never recap the needle. Always toss it right into the sharps container after you have administered the shot to the patient. It is also extremely important for healthcare workers to wear gloves. When you are dealing with needles, blood illnesses are prevalent and you can easily contract a harmful disease if you are not properly protected.

Do not be in a rush when you are working with needles. Take your time and make sure you pay close attention to the needle. Once you administer the shot, quickly dispose of the needle, do not leave it sitting out on a counter-top while you administer another shot. Make sure the sharps containers are close-by and easily accessible. The sharps containers also need to be puncture-resistant to prevent the needles from coming out of the container.

The people that are frequently injured through needle stick injuries are nurses in hospitals. Some healthcare workers have been injured when they are collecting the trash because a needle was accidently thrown in the wrong trash. This is why it is highly important to only use a sharps container to dispose of needles.

Another concern with needles is that they can penetrate through almost anything. Just because you are wearing protective clothing and you use a sharps container doesn't mean you are 100 percent protected. The needles can easily penetrate through plastic containers, especially if they are starting to get old. It is rare for the needles to penetrate through the plastic, most of the needle stick injuries are caused from carelessness by healthcare workers.

Several healthcare companies have switched to safer needle devices. These devices actually have a built-in safety control that will help to prevent against needle stick injuries. Another option companies have is to use devices that eliminate the need for needles. There are IV connectors, blunted surgical needles, or re-sheathing needles that will prevent needle stick injuries from occurring. These safer devices provide a barrier from the healthcare workers hands and the needle after it has been used. The healthcare workers hands are actually behind the needle the entire time, so it is next to impossible to stick yourself with the needle. The safety features will automatically go into effect after the shot has been administered and it is easy to dispose of the needle once it has been used.

The safer needle devices are easy to use and most employees understand how to use it by watching their co-workers use it one time. The best part about the newer needle devices is that they do not interfere with the delivery of patient care and it is easier for the medical personnel to administer the shot.

Just remember that prevention is the key to avoiding needle stick injuries. If you can properly train your staff about the dangers of needle stick injuries and how to properly handle the needles, your chances of having needle stick injuries will decrease.