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Disposal of sharps in Corfu

C

chrisjohnson

Member
Messages
8
Location
Skipton, North Yorkshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Dislikes
not being able to eat what i want
Hi
Anyone know whether Greek pharmacies will take used sharps? First time there since starting on insulin and we are there for a month so there will be a few and don't want to be bringing them back home in my suitcase. Many thanks
 
I don't know about Corfu but many pharmacies in the UK do not take sharps. For example, it is my council that collect mine.

I am not sure how many sharps you use but I always took my sharps home in a small drinks bottle.
A small water bottle doesn't take up much space in my luggage and would be large enough for 4 needles and 2 lancets a day for a month.
 
I used to bring back a month's worth of used syringes from Australia rather than try to find somewhere to dump them, much easier these days with only needles to dispose of (though unfortunately I'm not in Australia very often these days either!) I did tend to clip the needles with one of those clipper devices, but I'm equally not too bothered about needlestick injuries from my own used sharps. More recently I'd just leave the used needles (with both of the caps back on) in a plastic freezer bag (or 3) - they are in my hold luggage so I'm going to be delving in there without looking when I get back.

For lancets, on the off chance I did bother to change one, I'd pop it in a handy container (dead test strip container) and dispose of when I got home
 
When at hotels in North America I just ask front desk or housekeeping if they have safe needle disposal container; they usually do. Might be worth asking your Corfu hotel in advance so they can get one ready.
 
I got a couple of 0.25l sharps bins from Amazon for about £5 for holidays last year.
 
In Response said:
I don't know about Corfu but many pharmacies in the UK do not take sharps. For example, it is my council that collect mine.

I am not sure how many sharps you use but I always took my sharps home in a small drinks bottle.
A small water bottle doesn't take up much space in my luggage and would be large enough for 4 needles and 2 lancets a day for a month.
Click to expand...
I think that is the best idea! In the UK the council will take them and supply a tamper proof container generally for that very purpose. I've been type 1 for 63 years and in the old days we used to carefully wrap up our old needles and syringes in a little bag and stick them in the bin but that's not been allowed for a very long time - quite rightly too!
 
@Captain_Sensible the sharps container rules seem to vary across the UK.
Some get their sharp bin from the council, some from their pharmacy, my pump supplier used to send me mine.
I think there is as much variation when it comes to disposing of your sharps bin. Some take them to pharmacies, some take them to GP surgeries, some are collected by the council, ...

But, if someone is used to disposing of sharps in the UK, I think it is better to return them home rather than trying to navigate local rules on holiday.
 
Hi, just been to Greece. Can I suggest a Tupperware box with lid for your sharps going out unused and then for coming back for the used stuff. Works for me and the airports appreciate you saying there are sharps, but you do have to get everything out normally for the bag search anyway.
 
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