A very dodgy beach find.

[former member]

Think I've only ever come across one needle,but I'm for ever picking up broken bottles and big bits of nasty looking metal to put out of the way....found a home made crack pipe the other day though

[Harry Digger]

I never, ever, use my hands in the sand and always, even in the height of summer, wear my steel toecap boots.
I used to, but my blood ran cold when I saw a needle sticking out of the sand near to a signal I was digging

don't the steel toecaps cause problems with signals?

Not if you just walk normally in them
You only hit problems if you do 'John Cleese Ministry of Funny walks' impersonations

[christhenix]

Thoughtful post. Thank you.

I'm new to the hobby and this danger would not have crossed my mind.

Chris.

[rattzzz]

Hi all
I got stuck with a needle about a month since at work and i can assure you it's very worrying. I had to have a hepatitis injection and a tetanus injection and two test tubes of blood taken, i have had another hepatitis injection the other week and a further one to come in January. I must admit i never gave it a thought and cosidering what i have been through i should know better.
Cheers for bringing it to our ettention.

[rattzzz]

As I am a pharmacist by profession, I know all too well the dangers of needle stick injury. Can I give you all some advice in the event you DO get stuck by one.....

1. As soon as you realise you've been stuck by a needle, encourage the puncture to BLEED. If it is a finger, squeeze it hard to encourage bleeding which should go some to way to 'wash' anything on the needle out of your body.

2. If you have some water handy, rinse it as copiously as you can, even head to the sea if you can.

3. Keep hold of the needle ! I know this sounds daft but, and this is important, keeping hold of the needle means it can possibly be tested for things like hepatitis and HIV, and it can be determined if there was any blood in the portion that stuck you. If you don't have the needle, you will have months of worry waiting to be tested as these conditions do not show up immediately.

4. Don't panic ! The chances of getting anything from a used needle are real, but relatively low. Stay calm, get yourself to hospital.

And that's it really. If you like you can carry some of that alcohol hand rub, but using it doesn't mean you don't take the steps above.

Lastly, if you do find a needle, either call the police and they will deal with it or, if you believe there is a real danger someone will get hurt by it before the police can get there, grab an old tin can and, picking the needle up by the plastic end, drop it carefully into the can.

Hope that helps.

RRPG

Brilliant advice

[mudchucka]

Disgraceful! These 'people' are a waste of oxygen!

Well highlighted John. I'll certainly be taking extra care next time I'm on the beach. Glad you're ok, and didn't get injured.

Wrong they are a waste if Hydrogen...
MUD

[Neil&Julie]

We were at Blyth beach for a birthday the other day, we were setting up a beach tent, I scooped up a load of sand with both bands, then right in the middle was a needle sticking up. Fair to say the kids went no where near the beach!!

But I raise a good question, are councils acting in negligence by preventing metal detectorists finding and disposing of such things??