Diabetic Sharps Containers

[BigredNole]

My DW is a diabetic and this will be the first time traveling with sharps (needles, lancets, etc). We had already planned for all the insulin requirements. What we have not planned on is the disposal and containment of used sharps. With that said, I have the following questions...

1. What do you use for used sharps in the parks so you don't have to go to First Aid every so often?

2. The resorts we are staying at do not offer sharps containers. What would you use in the room for sharps disposal?

I know we should have had this planned before hand, but it was a lapse. I am trying to see if I can get anything ordered and shipped to the house. Otherwise, I will have it shipped directly to the resort we are staying at.

 

[BigredNole]

OK, Amazon came through and will have 2 sharps containers delivered next day. This way we will have one for each resort. If we can't find disposal at the resorts, we can bring them home to dispose.

For the parks, we can use a prescription bottle for the lancets until we get near the First Aid stations. If they have sharps disposal in the restrooms, we can dump them there. If anyone has any other knowledge on sharps disposal at parks, please let me know?

Thanks

 

[Gracie09]

You can ask housekeeping for sharps containers. They will dispose of them when you leave. Most restrooms have a sharps container. At least they did a few years when I was on injectable meds.

 

[BigredNole]

Thanks Gracie. I should have made it more clear. We are staying offsite. I contacted both resorts and neither offer in-room sharps containers.

 

[cobright]

Assuming your syringe uses a luer needle, pull it off and put it on an old Rx bottle (clearly labeled). Then throw the syringe away. BD makes a device that clips the used needle off and stores up to 1500 of them for safe disposal... BD Safeclip I think.

 

[gap2368]

in the past I have used an old water bottle, and old glucose tablet bottle, old test strips, ( and at home I use an juice container )

really not as hard as you think

and at WDW all bathrooms have sharp containers in them, wether or not they are full is another story.

 

[scdak]

OP - I am glad you were able to find sharps containers to use for this trip and hope you have a great time. The idea for the lancets in a prescription bottle is a good one, I do that all the time. I love the BD Safeclip as another poster suggested, I use it at home and when I travel , I buy them in packs of 3 on Amazon for the cheapest price. At home I throw the needleless syringes in the trash, when I travel I put them in an old Rx bottle (tall one) because we have been told by housekeeping at a couple of hotels and on cruises that they are not supposed to empty the trash if they see syringes in them even though there are not needles on them, I would rather just put them in my travel "sharps container" ie prescription bottle and bring them home than to cause any trouble for the housekeepers/room stewards.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I'm not diabetic, but I do take other injectable medication. If I'm at a hotel, I place everything in a plastic bottle, including the needle, syringe, and alcohol pads. I use regular pop bottles most frequently, but the laundry scent sprinkle (Downy Unstoppables and such) bottles work great too because of the wide opening. Label it "Medical Waste" with a sharpie and either drop it off at the front desk, or leave the bottle sitting out for housekeeping. As long as it is in a closed container and clearly labeled, there should never be an issue. As for the parks, I'd again carry a bottle in case the bathroom doesn't have a sharps container, and drop it off at First Aid whenever you pass by.

 

[SueM in MN]

Even though you called the resort you are in, I would still try contacting Housekeeping to ask for one once you get there. It's very possible that they do have them and the person you talked to is not aware.

The park restrooms all have sharps containers, so that should not be an issue.
Have not seen many full ones, but it's a possibility that the restroom you are in will be full. Once they are totally full, they automatically close, so a prescription bottle as a temporary holding container is still good.

If you use a bottle that was used for something else, it should be thick plastic that can't be penitrated. Water or pop bottles are too thin of plastic and should not be used - the hotel can get in trouble with their waste removal company for having sharps in a container that can be punctured.

Here's more info from Diabetes Forcast: http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2014/07-jul/how-to-trash-your-sharps.html

 

[BigredNole]

Thanks for all the information. We have 2 sharps containers on the way for the rooms. We also have 2 of the larger/taller prescription bottles for the parks.

 

[gohomekate]

As others have said at the parks almost all the bathrooms now have sharps disposals especially the handicap or companion restrooms. My DH who is diabetic and is on insulin keeps his sharps in a sharps container and brings it to a restroom for disposal every couple of days. I like the idea of the Downey Sparkles bottle. It is easy to open and will hold a lot of needles and will stay shut. The first aid stations are very accommodating at all the parks!