News (Media Awareness Project) - Canada: Agencies Target Dirty Needles |
| Title: | Canada: Agencies Target Dirty Needles |
| Published On: | 1999-09-15 |
| Source: | Calgary Herald (Canada) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-05 20:18:14 |
PUBLIC SAFETY
AGENCIES TARGET DIRTY NEEDLES
A new educational awareness campaign - the first of its kind in Canada -
aimed at ridding Calgary's streets, playgrounds, schoolyards and parks of
dirty needles and used condoms was launched by the city Tuesday.
`I don't believe that the citizens of Calgary have any idea how bad this
problem is,' Don Wilson, a city firefighter and hazardous materials officer,
told a news conference.
`Not only do we get calls from residential areas, but we've even had people
call to say that they've found used needles right under playground equipment
or jammed into the ground, with the sharp end sticking up.'
A consortium of several agencies led by the fire department, police service
and emergency medical services, formed a needle safety project committee a
year ago to tackle the problem. Throughout this month, Calgarians will
receive an insert with their utilities bill urging parents to educate their
children about the dangers of dirty needles and what to do if they find one.
Children are being encouraged never to touch a dirty needle or used condom
but to inform an adult should they find one because diseases such as the HIV
virus that causes AIDS can be contained inside. `The biggest issue is we
don't want children to be pricked.' Wilson said.
Posters reinforcing the dangers will be posted throughout city schools and a
video is being produced for children.
Canada Post has donated about 30 refurbished mailboxes that have been
painted yellow which will be placed throughout the city to be used as
disposal units.
`The indication of success will be primarily the amount of needles we
collect,' Wilson said.
Police Chief Christine Silverberg said the program and educational awareness
of how to handle dirty needles `will enhance the level of safety for our
officers and citizens,' and help rid the streets of the byproducts of
prostitution and drugs.
The fire department reported 262 pickups citywide of single or multiple
discarded needles and used condoms in the first nine months of last year.
AGENCIES TARGET DIRTY NEEDLES
A new educational awareness campaign - the first of its kind in Canada -
aimed at ridding Calgary's streets, playgrounds, schoolyards and parks of
dirty needles and used condoms was launched by the city Tuesday.
`I don't believe that the citizens of Calgary have any idea how bad this
problem is,' Don Wilson, a city firefighter and hazardous materials officer,
told a news conference.
`Not only do we get calls from residential areas, but we've even had people
call to say that they've found used needles right under playground equipment
or jammed into the ground, with the sharp end sticking up.'
A consortium of several agencies led by the fire department, police service
and emergency medical services, formed a needle safety project committee a
year ago to tackle the problem. Throughout this month, Calgarians will
receive an insert with their utilities bill urging parents to educate their
children about the dangers of dirty needles and what to do if they find one.
Children are being encouraged never to touch a dirty needle or used condom
but to inform an adult should they find one because diseases such as the HIV
virus that causes AIDS can be contained inside. `The biggest issue is we
don't want children to be pricked.' Wilson said.
Posters reinforcing the dangers will be posted throughout city schools and a
video is being produced for children.
Canada Post has donated about 30 refurbished mailboxes that have been
painted yellow which will be placed throughout the city to be used as
disposal units.
`The indication of success will be primarily the amount of needles we
collect,' Wilson said.
Police Chief Christine Silverberg said the program and educational awareness
of how to handle dirty needles `will enhance the level of safety for our
officers and citizens,' and help rid the streets of the byproducts of
prostitution and drugs.
The fire department reported 262 pickups citywide of single or multiple
discarded needles and used condoms in the first nine months of last year.
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