A used needle remains on a tray after an injection. What is the safest action?
- ADispose of it immediately in a sharps container
- BRecap it immediately with both hands, then take it to the bin
- CBend the needle before disposal to prevent reuse
- DRemove the needle from the syringe by hand first
Show answer and explanations
Answer
A
A
Used needles go uncapped into a puncture-resistant sharps container at the point of use.
B
Two-handed recapping is a leading cause of needlestick injury, whatever the timing.
C
Bending or breaking needles increases the risk of injury and is prohibited.
D
Manually unscrewing or removing needles exposes the hand to the sharp; the whole device is discarded.