Kamloops dad starts petition after son poked by used needle

Kamloops father Jeff Arlitt was horrified last week when his fiance called him to say his 12-year-old son Landon had been pricked by a usedneedle.

That's prompted him to start a petition to improve needle safety by having conventional syringes replaced with VanishPoint syringes, which have needles that retract after being used.

Arlitt works as an outreach supervisor with New Life Community, an organization thatprovides services for people who are homeless or need additional supports.

"Obviously working in this field, I've dealt with many overdoses and I just see the problem out there with the needles," he said.

He noticedthe needles in the naloxonekits retract after use and he thought this might be a solution to the safety risk posed by needles that are carelessly discarded.

• IsVancouver becoming 'syringe city'?
• Victoria officials concerned by spike in discarded needleprickings
• Snow melt reveals discarded needles in Vernon area

"When you're walking in the parks, you just always have that fear of accidentally getting poked," he said.

"I would have never thought this would have happened this close to me, with my son."

During spring break, the pre-teen had been playing with his siblings underneath a bridge near Collingwood Drive in the Kamloops neighbourhood of Westsyde.

There they found numerous needles lying on the ground.

When Landon saw the bag, he thought he hould bring it homeand tell his parents.

"We grabbed the bag, tied it tight and we walked back and as I was walking back, I got pricked in the leg," Landon said.

"I was worried," he said.

"I thought we would have to go to the hospital."

That's exactly what happened.

Landon got a tetanus shot and had blood testsdone. He will be monitored for the next two months to make sure he didn't contract anything from the needle.

It`s something Arlitthopes he can prevent other families from experiencing.

Petition gets positive response

'If the government and Interior Health ... can agree with handing out needles for harm reduction, then they should be making it safer."

Arlitt has been gathering signatures in person and his online petition has nearly 300 signatures.

"Not one person disagrees with it."

He says he's spoken with the mayor of Kamloops and plans on taking the idea to city council to get their support.

"I personally am not going to stop until it does happen."

Currently, organizations like ASK Wellness that distribute needles are also handing out personal disposal units so drug users can safely dispose ofneedles.

For more Kamloops stories, check out the CBC KamloopsFacebook page.