FIREFIGHTERS NEEDLE LITTERS

Powell River Fire Rescue responded to a dangerous situation last
Thursday morning, September 6. They received a call at 8:37 am to
dispose of hypodermic needles dumped at Westview Townhouses, an
apartment complex located in the 3800 block of Joyce Avenue.

Calls to remove needles have become routine for firefighters; they
receive these requests more than once a week.

"We have picked up over 300 in a single place and that has happened on
more than one occasion that I am aware of," said Powell River fire
chief Dean Gerhart. As of September 6, local firefighters disposed of
806 needles this year.

More than 100 needles were thrown out with the trash, interspersed
with regular garbage in plastic bags. A resident noticed a needle
sticking out of one of the bags and contacted the local fire department.

Firefighters broke each bag open and carefully separated the needles
from the trash. Then they loaded the needles into secure containers
and took them back to the fire station.

Gerhart said firefighters were called to the apartment complex the
previous week to deal with a similar situation. "There's a fair amount
of drug use in that area. Our concern of course is that we do not know
what is in the needles or whether there is any type of disease that
can be passed on if somebody is to get stuck with it," he said.

Firefighters are concerned because there are indications of the
dangerous material inside the bags. Workers removing the garbage are
at risk as well as the many children in the area.

"People who are intravenous drug users need to have or take
responsibility and put the needles into a container which can be
easily picked up, separated from domestic garbage and not left around
for children and other non-suspecting people," Gerhart said.

Marion Lawrie is a tenant in the same complex. She said the apartment
building's manager is concerned about children living in the building
and is trying to clean up the property. He was out of town at the time
of the incident and was not available for comment.

"In my opinion building owners and managers need to take some
responsibility for what's going on and if they rent to tenants who
lead that type of lifestyle, in my opinion, they are part of the whole
problem," Gerhart said.

But the problem is not confined to garbage. Gerhart said most needles
are found on the streets and around public buildings

People can dispose of needles through the local needle exchange
program, by contacting public health or by calling the fire
department. These services pose no legal threat to drug users who wish
to dispose of needles responsibly.

Gerhart said his only concern is that needles are dealt with
appropriately.

"Most people who are using drugs are not necessarily aware of what
they are doing but there's usually people around them that are not
using drugs and I appeal to them to encourage the proper disposal of
needles," Gerhart said.