BOOKLET FOR fOUltfi PEOPLE. WITH DIABETES
AND THEJR FAMILIES
Printed on Recycled Paper
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A NOTE TO ADULTS
This booklet is for young people with insulin-
dependent diabetes and for you.
People living in the United States use more than
one billion (1,000,000,000) syringes, needles and
lancets each year to take care of their diabetes.
This booklet shows you the safe way to handle and
throw out used insulin syringes and lancets at
home. ,
It's simple. The easy directions on the following
pages show you how to protect your family and
waste handlers from injury — and help keep the
environment clean and safe!
While you are reading this booklet, keep in mind
that your state, county or town may have special
rules about how to dispose of syringes and lancets.
Ask your doctor or diabetes educator how to find
out about any rules in your area.
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DID you
People with insulin-dependent diabetes know how important syringes
and lancets are for controlling their diabetes and staying healthy.
We use lancets
to test oar
: blood sugar
level/
Most people with insulin-dependent
diabetes use syringes and lancets every
day. But what do you do with them when you're done?
Like anything else we throw out, lancets and syringes need to be
disposed of properly. Otherwise they can end up in places they don't
belong, like beaches. And because they have very sharp, pointy ends,
they can hurt people by accident, like the person who collects your
garbage, someone in your family, or even you!
But there's a simple way you can help protect people AND the
environment. It's quick and easy!
Just follow these TWO steps
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STEP #1: ?UT IV LIT) ON IT!
After you've given yourself an insulin shot, put your syringe directly
into a strong plastic or metal container with a tight cap or lid.
This is the best thing to do! DON'T try to bend,
break, or put the cap back on your needle . . . you
might hurt yourself!
After you use a lancet, put it into the same
container, too.
0
'our container
of reach of
small children
.
Keep youi? corifainer in the
same room youxpsually have
ypurAinsuHn shot or telst -your
blood'sugar.' ,..^,
,,L-?r *-5t»-- «/»«K--r^ •
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The best container is
one made of strong
plastic with a tight
screw-on cap, such as:
/ a plastic bleach jug
S a liquid detergent bottle
/ a plastic milk jug, or
/ any other opaque or colored plastic bottle
These containers are all good because they are
very strong (so that needles can't poke through)
and because they have a small opening on top
that can be closed tightly (to prevent any spills).
^
Many household
items mqUe good
containers /
You can use a coffee can, too.
But when it gets full, close the
lid tightly and seal it with
strong tape.
Don't use glass containers (they can break)
Don't use any container that will be returned to the store
or recycled (syringes and lancets can't be recycled!)
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STEP *2: ?ITCH IN!
When the container is full and tightly sealed,
throw it out in the trash.
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VORD SCRAMBLE
1. Put your syringes and lancets into a strong
or
(CLIPAST) (LATME)
container, and tighten the .
(DLI)
2. When it gets full, throw your
(RENTANOIC)
into the _ !
(SHART)
CUT OUT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE AND KEEP IT NEAR YOUR CONTAINER AS A REMINDER.
STEP *t ?UT & UP ON IT!
After you use a syringe or a
lancet, put it directly into a
strong plastic or metal
container with a tight cap or
lid.
STEP*2:?ITCH
When the container is full and
tightly sealed, throw it out in
the trash.
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Now you know how to handle and throw out used insulin
syringes and lancets safely.
PABBITOkl!
Do you know others with insulin-dependent diabetes?
Tell them what you've learned about handling and safe disposal
of used syringes and lancets. By spreading the word, you can
help others keep the environment clean and safe!
This Booklet Is Sponsored By:
American Association of Diabetes Educators
American Diabetes Association
American Medical Association
Association for Practitioners in Infection Control, Inc.
Childhood & Adolescent Diabetes Center
Children's National Medical Center
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
National Association for Home Care
National Diabetes Information. Clearinghouse
This booklet was prepared by the Environmental Law Institute pursuant to a grant from the
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste. ;
Illustrations were created by Loel Barr. :
For additional copies of this booklet, please call the RCRA Hotline Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST.
The national toll-free number is (800) 424-9346; for the hearing impaired it is TDD (800) 553-7672.
In Washington, DC, the number is (202) 382-3000 or TDD (202) 475-9652,
This booklet may be photocopied.
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Washington, D.C.
EPA/530-SW-90-089
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