FREE TRAINING and RESOURCE MATERIALS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST!!
Off the Streets Project is committed to promoting public health and safety, including by cleaning up used syringes in our neighborhoods. Members of Off the Streets are trained on and adhere to specific guidelines while attending formal clean-ups. We choose specific areas, go in to the community in teams and while cleaning up, volunteers are also doing outreach and education with neighbors. Upon completion of the clean-up, photographs are taken, the findings are counted and analyzed, and volunteers debrief the day. All pertinent information is saved in an Excel spreadsheet.
Some tips for dealing with used syringes:
- Never pick up used syringes with your bare hands. Use care. Always use tongs and sturdy gloves and never touch the needle end - even if it is capped. Wash hands after handling paraphernalia.
- Place used syringes in a puncture-resistant container. Bio-hazard containers are best, but marked hard plastic detergent bottles and metal cans are better than soft-sided containers.
- After collection, used syringes can be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste facility at 1716 Morgan Road in Modesto, Friday and Saturday, 9am - 1pm. Call (209) 525-4123 for details or visit www.co.stanislaus.ca.us/ER/projhhw.htm
- You can also contact Off the Streets Project at offthestreetsproject@yahoo.com for free pick-up.
- IMPORTANT! If you or someone you know is accidentally stuck by a used needle, contact the health department for HIV testing, prevention, and/or immunization against Hepatitis. Call (209) 558-4818 or (800) 834-8171 or visit the county website: www.schsa.org/PublicHealth/programs/pages/immunizationdepartment.html.
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