A large number of discarded needles like these were found around Nipawin last month. (File photo/paNOW)

By Cam Lee

Nipawin sharps

High number of discarded needles found around Nipawin in September

Oct 18, 2024 | 2:00 PM

Some concerning numbers about sharps from the Nipawin Fire Department (NFD).

In their monthly information report to council, the department said the total number of sharps pickups around the community was “shocking”.

The NFD said 111 sharps were picked up in September, along with two biohazards.

They were called out Sept. 3 for a sharps pick up call on the opening day of school in front of the Nipawin Day Care.

Additional sharps were collected last month in the Central Park baseball dugouts, exhibition grounds, along boulevards, in the streets, abandoned garages, sheds, campers, and treed areas.

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Three sharps were found in a vacant garage on 4th St. W., and when crews went inside another 45 to 50 were located, with some mixed in with clothing. The department said the garage was boarded up several days later.

An uncapped sharp and packaging were found in the dugout at Central Park, along with bloody wipes and toilet paper. Leisure Services had picked up two a few hours earlier.

The department said a total of 8.71 hours were spent picking up sharps, paraphernalia, and biohazardous materials last month. That does not include what the NFD calls ‘hot spots’ that are checked every morning, a process that takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

When asked if the Town of Nipawin had anything to say on the high number of sharps found in September, CAO Michele Sorensen told northeastNOW “(w)e don’t have any official comment at this time.”

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK