To safeguard patients, our facility, and community members from potential contamination by medical waste, Julia Spinks, Brooks’ new Environmental Services Director, reminds us the hospital provides two FREE sharps disposal bins on hospital grounds for household medical needles, syringes and lancets.
The Safe SHARPS Disposal initiative is part of the expanding Brooks Memorial Hospital Community Service Program. Brooks is proud of our robust community service outreach program that provides FREE educational and preventive healthcare information and services to the community - a worthwhile contribution of about $3.5 million in 2014.
Julia adds, “The community is asked to remember that milk jugs and soda bottles are not rigid or puncture proof and should not be used for this purpose. Please also never to leave containers unattended or loose - to protect workers who handle trash and recyclables from illness and injury. In addition to protecting our environment, safe sharps disposal prevents sharps from being re-used or shared, which can spread diseases.
- An outdoor disposal kiosk, resembling a large, black mailbox, is located near the rear of the hospital on Eagle Street.Sharps need to be placed in a rigid, leak-proof, puncture-resistant, and sealable bottle, such as a small laundry detergent bottle or a 1lb plastic coffee can. The bottle should be marked “Contains Sharps”.
- Oversized containers that do not fit in the outdoor kiosk can be deposited in an inside container in the room next to the hospital’s switchboard.
The Safe SHARPS Disposal initiative is part of the expanding Brooks Memorial Hospital Community Service Program. Brooks is proud of our robust community service outreach program that provides FREE educational and preventive healthcare information and services to the community - a worthwhile contribution of about $3.5 million in 2014.
Julia adds, “The community is asked to remember that milk jugs and soda bottles are not rigid or puncture proof and should not be used for this purpose. Please also never to leave containers unattended or loose - to protect workers who handle trash and recyclables from illness and injury. In addition to protecting our environment, safe sharps disposal prevents sharps from being re-used or shared, which can spread diseases.
 “My compassion for people is my inspiration to maintain a clean and safe environment here at Brooks”, Julia Spinks, Brooks’ Environmental Services Director |  Brooks Safety Officer, Frank Schneider, by the outdoor SHARPS disposal bin facing Eagle Street. For more information about the Safe SHARPS Disposal program, visit http://www.brookshospital.org/community-programs.html or contact Julia Spinks, Brooks’ Environmental Services Director, at 363-7246. Additional information can be found on the New York State Department of Health Household Sharps Disposal program at http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/0909.pdf. |