Tips to Bear in Mind When Using Sharps Containers at Home

Being prescribed with injectible medications also means using caution and being responsible enough in disposing your syringes and other sharps that you use. This may not be the concern of many, but is should be a common knowledge because we can never be sure that we or all of our loved ones will be free from diabetes or other diseases that require daily injection therapies. There are some tips to bear in mind when choosing for sharpscontainers home use for you to get the best value for your money. You should also know the proper ways of disposing them, so you won’t violate any law and won’t pose a threat to other people’s health.   

Tips when buying sharps container:

1.       Determine the size of the biggest needle that you are using.

This should be your basis when deciding on the size of the container to get. If your biggest needle fits in a particular container, then it can surely accommodate all the other needles you are using. You should also determine how big the container’s opening should be and how deep it must be. Make sure that it’s deep enough, so your largest needle won’t be sticking out the top.

2.       Check various containers for durability.

It would be great if you can personally inspect the thickness of the sharps container that you are planning to purchase. It must be durable as well as leak- and puncture-resistant not only under normal working conditions but also with any added stress it can get during transportation and disposal. It must also be resistant enough to any fluctuations in temperature.  

Syringes and other medical “sharps” are a health concern, so they need to be properly disposed to ensure public safety. Disposal guidelines may vary from state to state, so it’s important that you consult your local health department about their disposal guidelines. Here are some general rules that can be followed no matter where you live: 

1.       Big sharps container or bin must be regularly monitored.

Make sure that you keep it in a safe location and regularly monitor its contents. Dispose it once the contents reach the designated fill line or when the container becomes three quarters full. Do not, at any cost, overfill the container.

2.       Seal your sharps container.

Before disposing it, seal the top of the container using heavy duty tape. Put two or more strips of tape over the top to be sure that the container won’t come open during transportation and disposal. 

3.       Check with your local post office for their policy in picking up sharps containers.

While you can get all-inclusive package when purchasing sharps containers, it is still wise to call your local post office and find out what their policy is on picking up boxes that contain sharps. They will provide you with specific instructions on how to properly seal the container. For an additional fee, your local post office may pick up the sharps containers from your home and ship them where they need to go. 

4.       Contract with a licensed medical waste pick-up company.

In case you didn’t get a mailback package for your sharps container, you can seal a deal with a medical waste pick-up company to be sure that your containers will be properly disposed. It can be a bit costly, but this company can dispose them in accordance with the law.