600,000 to a million health care workers are accidentally stuck by needles each year. If stuck by contaminated needles, a workers and their families must live through a terrifying six months or longer to find out if they are infected. Safer needles exist today that can prevent the spread of disease. There are a wide variety of safer needles on the market that have such features as a protective shield or a mechanism that automatically retracts the needles into the barrel after use. Most hospitals are not buying or even evaluating safer needles, and regulatory agencies are not requiring them to use safer products.
Safer needles save lives and money for health care facilities.
As more health care facilities use safer needles, manufacturers will be able to reduce the price because of increased production volume. States are leading the efforts to reduce needlestick injuries and deaths. 20 other states have since passed safer needle legislation, and at least 14 other states are considering needlestick prevention legislation. Read about Missouri's law , signed July 12, 2001. The widespread bipartisan interest in state legislatures and the strong public support on this issue demonstrates that strong action should be taken immediately.