Improperly Discarded Sharps from Home Care Can Be Dangerous

Many people use needles, syringes and lancets to manage their medical conditions at home. But the haphazard disposal of these devices is putting a lot of others, including waste-disposal workers, housekeepers, family members and children, at risk of injury and serious infections.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 9 million people in the U.S. use sharps at home. Unfortunately many sharps used outside of a doctor's office or hospital are thrown in the household trash, and that's hazardous.

To learn more about how to safely dispose of needles, syringes and other sharps at home, visit:  http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm278763.htm