U.S. News - needles

Jul

2012

8:49am, EDT

Four NYC beachgoers punctured by needles in past three weeks

AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Sunbathers and surfers walk on Rockaway Beach in the Queens neighborhood of New York in May.

By NBCNewYork.com

Four people walking or playing on New York City beaches have suffered puncture wounds from needles in the sand in the last three weeks, park officials said.

The most recent incident happened late Tuesday afternoon in Queens, when a lifeguard on duty at Rockaway Beach stepped on a needle at 139th Street, officials said.

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The other three incidents happened within the last three weeks on Staten Island. On July 16, a 63-year-old woman stepped on a hypodermic needle on Cedar Grove Beach, cutting her foot. On July 14, a 37-year-old man was stuck in the hand by a needle while he was on the sand at South Beach, near Father Capodanno Boulevard and Sand Lane. And on July 4, a 40-year-old man was stuck by a needle at South Beach.

All three beachgoers were taken to Staten Island University Hospital North.

"You don't know where these needles come from," said Crystal Matis of Elm Park, who was at the beach Wednesday with her young daughter. "It's very scary."

The Parks Department promised last month to clean up a stretch of Rockaway Beach after NBCNewYork.com discovered medical waste, including syringes, littering the sand.

New York beachgoers say they've been pricked by dirty needles washing up on shore. WNBC's Brynn Gingras reports.

The department said Wednesday it conducts daily beach cleanings, but strict budgets only allow for so much sand maintenance.

Parks advocate Geoffrey Croft criticized that response.

"The administration needs to figure this out because that's a lot of stabbings within a couple weeks," said Croft.

Rockaway Beach is one of New York City's most popular summer destinations, and attracts families and young children each summer.

Locals believe the beach's popularity during the summer contributes to the trash -- including needles -- found along the shore.

"There's trash on the beach all the time," Karina Salvo told NBCNewYork.com last month, after the initial discovery of medical waste. "Usually Monday morning when I come down here, 8 o'clock, 7 o'clock in the morning, there's trash from one end of the beach to the other. It's disgusting."

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Nov

2011

1:10pm, EST

Shoppers pricked by needles at Georgia Wal-Mart

By Sylvia Wood, msnbc.com

Two shoppers at an Atlanta-area Wal-Mart have reported being pricked by hypodermic needles hidden in clothing, prompting an investigation by Georgia sheriff's officials who are urging others to be cautious.

A third shopper found a broken syringe in the pocket of a pair of pants at the Wal-Mart in Cartersville, about 45 miles northwest of Atlanta, but was unharmed, according to Sgt. Jonathan Rogers, a spokesman for the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office.

Rogers said the first incident was reported Nov. 22, when a woman bought a pair of footed pajamas at the store for her daughter. When the girl was putting on the clothes at home, she reported being stuck in her right pinky by a syringe, according to the police report.

When the officer asked whether she had been stuck in the foot area, the child said she was "unsure because I freaked out."

In another case, reported Nov. 27, a woman said that while shopping at the store two days earlier, she opened a package of bras and her finger was stuck by a needle. After telling the store manager, she was advised to seek medical attention and get checked for hepatitis and HIV.

Rogers said the sheriff’s department was reviewing store security footage for any clues in the case.

"We’re trying to identify who may have done that and why they might have done that," he said.

He said neither victim had any "medical issues that we know of," after the incidents. The syringes, which were all recovered, appear to have been unused, Rogers said.

Wal-Mart said it was working with law enforcement on the investigation, and taking extra precautions, such as adding staff in the women's apparel area.

"We're committed to getting to the bottom of it," said Dianna Gee, a Wal-Mart spokesperson. "We do believe it's an isolated situation involving this particular store."

Meanwhile, Rogers urged shoppers to be vigilant as they examine clothing.

"You naturally want to be careful putting your hands into places where you can’t see them," he said.

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