COURTENAY HAS NEEDLE DISPOSAL BOXES

The City of Courtenay, in partnership with the Vancouver Island
Health Authority (VIHA) says it has installed publicly accessible
needle disposal boxes at the entrance to the Courtenay Riverway at
6th street and at Standard Park in Courtenay.

The needle box program, which the City says is a first on Vancouver
Island, is intended to promote the safe disposal of used needles and
other "sharps."

"Working in partnership with VIHA on this project is a big step to
making our city a safer place" said Courtenay Mayor Starr Winchester.

"Improperly discarded hypodermic needles and other sharps pose a risk
of injury and possible infection to unsuspecting workers, families
and pets in their homes, workplaces and public areas," said Dr.
Charmaine Enns, VIHA's medical health officer. "Our goal is to
implement a program in Courtenay that is user-friendly and helps to
ensure the safety of residents by providing an opportunity to safely
discard needles," she added. "In the coming months, we will evaluate
this program, which may lead to more needle boxes in other
communities on Vancouver Island."

The specially designed needle disposal boxes allow material to be
disposed of but not retrieved. The City of Courtenay will provide
regular pickup and proper disposal of the sharps deposited in the needle boxes.

The project was championed by D.J. Savin, whose seven-year-old son
suffered a needle-poke injury last summer from a discarded needle he
found in their curbside driveway.

"We've been under incredible stress regarding the health of our son,"
declared Savin. "He has endured a series of blood tests over the past
10 months, and thankfully the final tests have come back negative. We
want to make sure that another family never has to repeat our
experience." Savin encourages parents to talk to their kids about
needle safety.

"I would like to see information given to children at the pre-school
level. They're already being taught not to play with matches,
lighters, an axe or other dangerous articles so why not let them know
not to touch an improperly discarded needle also?"