Drug Litter, particularly used needles or syringes, is unsightly and can be worrying. The main risks are associated with needlestick injuries. Tetanus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and other blood borne infections can be passed through used needles, however the likelihood of contracting HIV is very remote.

James Lee, Senior Marketing Officer for Bradford Safer & Stronger Communities, says: “Drug litter is a safety issue for many communities in the UK. There is no evidence that Bradford has a more serious problem than other major cities, however, it is important people know what to do if they come across discarded needles.

Safely disposing of needles
 
Children should immediately tell an adult if they find a discarded needle. Never touch or play with a used needle. 
 
Don’t touch needles/syringes.  For safe removal, contact the council on 01274 431000.
 
If the needle poses an immediate threat and you are confident you can remove it safely:
 
• Find a strong container (e.g. a drinks can/bottle, or glass jar with a secure lid.) The container needs to be made of tough material that cannot be pierced.
• Put on some thick gloves (e.g . gardening gloves).
• Take the container to the needle.
• Hold the syringe by the base and not the point of the needle and drop it in the secure container.
• Avoid carrying the needles around
 
Once you have safely secured the needle and syringe, telephone Bradford Council on 01274 431000 and arrange for it to be collected.
 
 
If you sustain a needle stick injury
 
Stay calm and try not to panic; encourage the wound to bleed by squeezing firmly and hold under cold running water for up to five minutes. Dry the wound and apply a plaster. Do NOT suck the wound. Contact a health professional such as your doctor as soon as possible. If you are concerned, contact the accident and emergency department.
 
Further information regarding needles and syringes, and health and safety please John Bolloten on (01274) 434206.

Two new housing projects are now completed in the Little Horton area. Family homes at Elizabeth Street are already occupied and the forty flats at the Housing 21 project at the brand new Mary Seacole Court, named after the famous nurse, are filling up fast..

Mary Seacole Court Centre Manager Jane Stone says, ‘This development is for the over 55’s and has facilities not usually found in housing developments. For example we have a restaurant open to the public for lunches at very reasonable prices. We also have a shop on site and a unisex hairdressers. The complex is also home to the Federation of Caribbean Elders (FACE) and has a treatment room which can be hired out. Currently that is being used for therapeutic massage sessions. Plus when the old Gulberg Centre is pulled down there will be a development of eleven bungalows designed with older people in mind.’

Who was Mary Seacole?

Mary Seacole Court is named after the pioneering nurse. Mary Seacole has been described as the ‘Black Florence Nightingale’. The exploits of Nightingale have overshadowed those of Seacole in popular memory for while Mary Seacole was well known at the end of her life, she rapidly faded from public memory. She lived from 1805 to 1881 becoming famous for her nursing exploits during the Crimean War where she often helped wounded soldiers whilst being under fire herself. There has been a resurgence of interest in her life since the early 1980s, and she has become a symbol of racial prejudice and social injustices in Britain. She was voted into first place in an online poll of 100 Great Black Britons in 2004.