Injuries caused by sharps usually happen due to accidents and unexpected happenings. No one gets ultimately prepared for such occurrences, but it is important to put an effort in at least lessening the harm that sharps might bring.
Adults can surely prepare a lot to prevent sharps injuries and the worsening of them, but how about the kids? First of all, if sharps at home are just anywhere, then kids are more prone to getting injured. Kids who are still at a very young age (not literally babies, but that which can already move around and be very playful) are mostly the ones that get into such accidents, wherein the kids have no fault but the guardian/adults around. Kids who are older than those at a young age also get into accidents due to guardian’s shortcoming and also because of the kids’ naughtiness and curiosity.
You, as an informed adult or young adult, know the risks of getting in contact with sharps, especially the used ones, so you must be the one to assist your kids so that you won’t just protect yourself but also your loved ones.
BEWARE of the things adults, like you, do or might be doing un-awarely that put kids at risk of sharps injuries at home and anywhere else. Take a look at the following list:
Wrong #1: Irresponsible Handling and Keeping of Sharps
Little kids don’t know a lot of things yet, thus, adjusting for them is the adults’ thing. A lot of sharps injuries happen due to wrong and irresponsible handling and keeping of sharps. When using scissors or blades, sometimes you might just leave them somewhere like on top of the living room’s mini table. You might forget putting the knife on the sink. You might drop needles on the way to your bedroom. All these and more could happen if you’re not mindful.
Do not be reckless when it comes to this because it’s a matter of life and wellness. Secure sharps surely. In any case you have syringes at home, see to it that they are out of children’s reach, especially the uncapped ones. Scissors and other common sharps at home must not be placed where kids can easily see and grab it. Cover the coverable sharps. Don’t put them on top of the table or near areas kids always stay in.
Remember to properly put sharps like needles in a sharps disposal container stored in places unreachable by kids.
Wrong #2: Keeping the Hazards
Often, kids do not have a clear understanding yet about what’s dirty and what’s clean or what’s trash and not. They won’t know if the sharps they see are to be thrown away already. They will get and play with what they see around. You might just set aside for a while a needle you just used and forget to get back to it and throw it. Sometimes, you don’t immediately dispose a pair of broken scissors.
If you’re in a playground, most especially if it’s an outdoor playground, scan the place first to see if there are used and dumped sharps around. Go before the kids. Take a look at every part where kids will play.
Remember to throw into the sharps disposal container any used and dysfunctional sharp. Don’t put the danger near you. Throw the hazardous sharps right away.
Wrong #3: Recklessly Making It Easy for the Kids
Sometimes, some adults go near sharps while they are carrying a kid, and it’s either they’re on their minds or not. WHILE bearing a kid on your arms, if you come near sharps or to an area where you know that there are sharps around reachable by adults only, there’s a tendency that the intrigued kid will get a hold of it.
Remember that kids are curious and smart. They might outsmart you, an adult, if you are not careful. Do not bring kids near areas with sharps, but if you have no choice but to do it, then just be VERY ALERT.
Wrong #4: Taking Their Eyes Off The Kids
Kids are playful and restless most of the time. In just a blink of an eye, they may get harmed as they run, jump, roll, play and pick things up. Some parents and guardians are thoughtlessly talking to someone on the phone or are just out of focus, forgetting for a while about their kids.
Remember that you need to keep an eye on them — all your eyes actually. Wherever you are, just at home or outside to play and bond, make sure to supervise your kids or have a responsible, trusted adult to look over them for you.
Wrong #5: Leaving the Kids Clueless
It is good to protect kids by letting them stay away from sharps they see, but that isn’t always an easy thing to do. Mishaps such as getting injured by sharps do happen. Kids are kids; they love enjoying and discovering stuff. Before they discover that sharps/used sharps can be so dangerous, let them know; tell them. Don’t let them experience it first before knowing about it.
Teach the kids about sharps, its dangers and the proper way to handle and keep them. Give them precautionary rules when at home and outside. It is very essential to brief kids about the do’s when they see sharps somewhere. Warn them that thrown/used sharps contain germs which are definitely dangerous; mention about how diseases can transfer from one person to another through getting injured by sharps. Tell them not to pick up thrown sharps, inform an adult about it or ignore and play far from the suspicious sharps.
Remember that through this, you have to help the kids with what you know, thus, you’re helping yourself as well.
Conclusion:
There are many sharps present at home which may seem just common and used daily, but remember that they can bring harm to you and to kids if not properly utilized; that’s why it is very important that you take a look again at the list above and see if you’re doing any of those wrong things. Now you know better what to do!
AUTHOR BIO
Nicole Ann Pore is a daytime writer for ASP Healthcare, a products supplier and distributor to the health and harm reduction industry in Australia. She believes that healthy individuals form a healthy community, and a healthy community is more attainable if there is discipline and unity. Because of the course she took up in college, Nicole has become interested in film critiquing and filmmaking. She is into events hosting and voice over acting and hosting. | Nicole graduated Cum Laude from De La Salle University Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts . “To God be the glory”
