I picked up a hypodermic needle today.It was lying on the side of our street. I was on my way to the bus stop and there were a zillion kids in the vicinity. I could easily envision one of them investigating. The thought of an 8 year old playing with a used needle makes me shudder.
I looked around because I assumed it had fallen out of someone's trash can. I realized at that moment that trash day was two days ago. How the needle got there suddenly became more dubious.
We live in a quiet residential area, although occasionally our Indian neighbors to the north can be pretty raucous with their Hindi techno music, dancing and presumably delicious food.
I almost showed up at their door on Christmas night, half crazed by the smell of something fabulous. I am certain a chubby blonde would not be out of place at that little get-together at all.
I put the needle in the cup holder of the stroller and proceeded on through my morning routine. I walked Wesley to the bus stop and power-walked for twenty minutes after.
I "destroyed" the needle (i.e. broke the tip) on the inside of the garbage can and tossed it in a pile of shi**y diapers.
"You did WHAT," Chris yelled when I told him what happened. "That was REALLY STUPID. You put it in OUR garbage can? Wahwah wah wah wahhhhhhh," and so on and so forth.
Actually, I can't tell you what he said after "stupid" because I tuned him out. He has actually spoken at length before when suddenly I realized I hadn't heard a thing he had said.
Sometimes I can cover my bad; sometimes I can't. Either scenario is quite awkward.
He suggested that I should have called the city so they could come get it and dispose of it. He suggested that a trash collector could be stuck with the needle. He brought up the landfill issue. All good points, none of which I had thought of.
"Did you want me to leave it lying there with dozens of kids around," I asked. "That's stupid, too."
So, I started thinking. What exactly SHOULD one do if she happens upon a hypodermic needle on the road in the midst of curious children? Needle disposal generally isn't on the minds of most people who aren't diabetic or who have a medical condition that require the thought.
I decided to investigate online and found nothing really, except of course, I wasn't supposed to throw it in the garbage. I am smart enough to know that I shouldn't dig around in the trash can to retrieve the needle; I suppose it is now just a learning experience.
There weren't any disposal options presented on the website, either, so I'm still unclear as to what exactly I should have done.
So, I am wondering: what would you have done? I am curious. Just leave your suggestion in the "comments" area, and don't be too hard on me. I already got enough sh** from my husband.
Thanks.
