A used needle can carry germs. If you find one, or many, you don't have to deal with them alone.
If you find a needle
Public Health – Seattle & King County says (how to handle used or found sharps1):
- Do not pick up a syringe or needle with your hands, even when wearing gloves.
- Use a strong, puncture-resistant container with a lid, such as a sharps container or a thick plastic bottle.
- Put the needle in point down. Do not recap it, bend it or break it.
- If a needle pokes you, wash the area right away and get medical care.
When to call a company
Call when there are many needles, when they are in a yard, a crawl space or an empty unit, or when you would rather not handle them. A biohazard company picks them up into proper containers and cleans the area.
The same public health page says sharps found on private property are the property owner's responsibility.
Who to call first
In an emergency, call 911.These official offices may be part of the first steps. They are government pages, not ours.
- County medical examiners and coroners After a sudden or unexpected death, cleanup waits until the county's office is done.
- Washington Crime Victims Compensation Program (L&I) (opens in a new tab)If a crime happened, it may help with some costs, such as funeral expenses. It doesn't pay for cleanup.
- Verify a contractor (L&I lookup) (opens in a new tab)Look up whether a company is a registered contractor before work starts.
- Washington State Department of Health (opens in a new tab)State health rules, such as for drug lab cleanup and hantavirus.