How to Safely Dispose of Medical Waste - Caregiver Tips

Summary

This video educates caregivers on the proper disposal of home healthcare waste to prevent health risks. It distinguishes between regular waste and biohazardous waste, like human blood and sharps. Viewers are instructed to double bag regular waste, avoid recycling it, and use approved biohazard containers for sharps. The video also directs viewers to a care guide for detailed information and local programs for safe disposal.

Takeaways

• 🏠 Healthcare waste includes any waste produced during the physical care of a person at home.
• 💉 Double bag home healthcare waste and ensure both bags are tightly closed to minimize health risks.
• 🚮 Never put home healthcare waste in the recycling bin as these items are not recyclable.
• ⚠️ Biohazardous waste poses a greater risk of injury and infection, including human blood and sharps.
• 💉 Sharps are items with sharp or pointed edges that can puncture the skin, such as needles and syringes.
• 🚫 Do not put sharps in regular garbage, recycle, or organic bins, and don't flush them down the toilet.
• 🗑️ Use an approved biohazard container labeled with the universal biohazard symbol for safe disposal of sharps and human blood waste.
• 💊 Consult your local pharmacist for approved containers and disposal advice for biohazardous waste.
• 🌐 Some provinces or regions offer programs to help dispose of biohazardous waste, like the Ontario Sharps Return Program.
• 📚 For more detailed information on safe disposal of healthcare waste, refer to the provided care guide and additional resources.

Q & A

What is considered healthcare waste in the context of home care?

Healthcare waste includes any waste produced during the physical care of a person, such as disposable gloves, soiled dressings, and incontinence products.

How should home healthcare waste be disposed of at home?

Home healthcare waste should be double bagged with both bags tightly closed, and never placed in the recycling bin as these items are not recyclable.

What types of waste are considered biohazardous in home healthcare?

Biohazardous home healthcare waste includes human blood and sharps, such as needles, syringes, injectors, injection pens, and lancets.

Why is it important to not put biohazardous waste in regular garbage or recycle bins?

Biohazardous waste poses a greater risk of injury and infection, so it should never be placed in regular garbage, recycle, or organic bins.

What should be done with sharps instead of flushing them down the toilet?

Sharps should be placed in an approved biohazard container for safe disposal.

Where can one obtain an approved biohazard container for disposal?

Approved biohazard containers can be obtained from local pharmacists, and they must be labeled with the universal biohazard symbol.

Are there any programs that assist with the disposal of biohazardous waste like sharps?

Yes, some provinces or regions offer programs to help dispose of biohazardous waste, such as the Ontario Sharps Return Program.

What is the Ontario Sharps Return Program and how does it help with disposal?

The Ontario Sharps Return Program provides a safe and easy way for individuals to dispose of sharps in their homes.

What is the role of the universal biohazard symbol in waste disposal?

The universal biohazard symbol is used to label approved containers for biohazardous waste, indicating that the contents pose a risk and need special handling.

Is the video a comprehensive guide for disposing of healthcare waste?

The video is a good starting point but is not a comprehensive guide. For more detailed information, viewers are directed to a care guide provided in the video.

Where can viewers find additional support and resources for caregiving?

Viewers can find additional caregiver support and resources by subscribing and watching other videos from the same source.