San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal – Our world has set aboard the train for modernization and technological advancements. Each and every year, something new comes out, a trend, a ‘fresh’ piece of technology, or a new ‘dish’ pops out on the internet, going viral in no time. We keep riding the train to the future at full speed, yet we cannot find the brake paddle when we need it. Those who did not aboard the train are left behind, pondering upon the pros and cons the technological future will bestow upon us.
Introduction To Medical Waste:
With the introduction of technology and heavy machinery, accidents have increased significantly. Yes, it is true that in older times, people used to be victims of diseases more often; however, in modern times, there have been more and more mishaps. Like workers and civilians hurting themselves with heavy machinery. Generally, workplaces have the proper equipment, and most civilians do not just start using heavy machinery; the chances of such accidents are not as low as you think.
San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal – Information
Then there are cars, the most renowned way of hurting yourselves. There are 17 thousand accidents every day reported to the Police Departments in the USA. Now, obviously, 17,000 thousand accidents do not happen literally every day so we can slim that number down. That takes the sum of 6 Million to 5 Million. It has been reported that there has been a decrease of 22% between 2019 and 2020 when it comes to accidents. That yet again slims our sum to 2.4 Million. This number is lower than we discussed previously, but it is still petrifying. This is also only in the USA. If we were to count all the other countries and continents, then words cannot even begin to describe the fear that will originate once we take the sum of the entire world.
The question that may arise is;
How is This Related To Medical Waste? Let Us Explain:
With so many accidents taking place on a daily basis, it comes as no shock that medical and health care facilities are always busy taking care of more and more patients. Our ted talk above was our stance on why medical waste can never come to a halt. We hurt ourselves every so often. Cutting something, opening a package, carelessly using a paper clip, driving recklessly, using machinery without the proper equipment, and so many other ways. Though some of these ways are minor, you use a bandage to cover up the injury, yes? That is medical waste. Before we delve into any detail as to why medical waste can actually never stop, let’s first define, debrief and debunk what medical waste actually is:
What is Medical Waste?
To put it in simpler and more understanding terms, medical waste(San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal) is the waste that originates when a patient or person is treated for an injury. That can range from bandages to saws. Anything used to patch up a wound and later thrown away is medical waste. Simple, right?
Now let’s move on to why medical waste cannot stop. If we were to stop producing medical waste seriously, that would mean no bandages, no more medicines, no more pain killer drugs, no more anesthesia, no more operations, and slim to no chances of living once you’re injured badly or very sick. With that in mind, what is the first place that comes to your mind when the word “medical waste” navigates into your ear? Hospitals, right? And while you would be right to think so, there are other places that produce medical waste(San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal).
Let’s Go Over What Places Produce Medical Waste:
- Hospitals
- Medical Research Laboratories
- Dental Offices
- Veterinary Practices
- Urgent Care Clinics
- Retail Health Clinics
- Physician Practices
- Nursing Homes
- Funeral Homes
- Commercial Offices and Buildings
- Home Healthcare or Infusion Situations
San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal
The list provided above is in the order in which the most medical waste is produced, with hospitals taking the top spot. To shame a health care facility for creating medical waste is not the right thing to do, but to make a health care facility get rid of their own medical waste and dispose of it is what we should be doing, Especially after the influence of social media.
Let’s take San Diego County as a quick example; there are businesses that are willing to provide their medical waste disposal services to San Diego County. With that being said;
Let us first delve into the history of medical waste. This history is not just about San Diego County, for we have taken San Diego County(San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal) as a mere example of medical waste.
The History of Medical Waste:
Since the 1980s, the strategy of dealing with medical waste in the United States has changed dramatically. A spate of events involving clinical garbage washing up on East Coast beaches drew extensive media attention throughout that decade. The occurrences prompted requests for stricter regulation, which resulted in the Federal Medical Waste Tracking Act of 1988.
San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal – Act
The Act established stringent regulations on trash transfer from hospitals and other establishments. When it lapsed in 1991, the states primarily assumed the regulatory burden, building their respective program on the Act’s lessons.
Innovative approaches in the clinical waste business continue to improve safety, comfort, cost reductions, and service speed. A few garbage disposal companies that accept the waste transfer by mail are among the most beneficial. With our attained knowledge about the history and origination of medical waste(San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal), we should move on to talk about the different types of medical waste that exist within San Diego County.
Let’s Go Over The Type of Medical Waste Found in San Diego County:
First Up Is What You Can Consider The ‘Innocent Waste’:
In reality, this kind of waste is referred to as ‘Non-Risk waste.’ This type of waste, as the name suggests, does not bring any harm to us in general, but it can harm the environment if not disposed of. In the end, it does not pollute our air and does not have harmful side effects on human life. Other living things are another story, though… This sort of waste generally includes paper, cardboard or cardboard pieces, juice boxes, empty packets of crisps, candy wrappers, and so on and so forth.
Second Comes The ‘Deadly Waste’:
This waste is better referred to as ‘risk waste.’ And yet again, as the name suggests, this risk proves harmful to the general population and the environment. This waste is further divided into subcategories.
Together, Let’s Delve Into The Sub Categories of Risk Waste:
1. Infectious Waste:
This sort of waste is just as the name says it is. It can spread bacteria and become infectious to the general public and the ones who are collecting the medical waste. This waste generally includes used items such as gloves, masks, needles, injections, bandages, cotton balls, tubes, and containers contaminated with bodily fluids.
2. Sharp Waste:
Sharp waste is one of the kinds of waste that exists not only in the medical waste category. This kind of waste includes glass, saws, scalpels, needles, injections, razors, or just about anything that has the capability to cut or puncture someone.
3. Chemical Waste:
Chemical waste includes contaminated tubes, old, underutilized, or outdated medical equipment, and just about any solid, liquid, or gas that might be toxic if not disposed of properly.
4. Pathological Waste:
Examples of pathological waste include body parts, organs, fetuses, urine, and any tube or container infected with body parts or biological fluid.
Medical Waste in San Diego County
Now, this medical waste may not seem important as of now it may seem trivial, but rain drops make a flood. If a few bits and pieces of medical waste are left all over different places, then there would be a lot of San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal that has not been disposed of yet.
Disposing of medical waste(San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal) is no easy task. Many times you need machinery to get rid of the waste. You need manual labor and you need a strong heart. That is because who would actually want to grab a person’s body part or organ without flinching?
It is human psychology to not fully understand a certain aspect unless the person is in the ‘victim’ or the other person’s shoes. To motivate others to dispose of the San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal, we will present the consequences of not getting rid of medical waste.
Consequences To The Humans And The Environment in San Diego if Their Medical Waste is Not Dealt With:
Suppose you live in a highly developed economy such as the USA, the UK, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and so on and so forth. In that case, you might have seen medical waste with your own eyes and may think it is a petty topic to discuss. However, underdeveloped countries usually end up having piles and heaps of medical waste lying on unconstructed grounds. Like in San Diego, businesses offer their disposing services because they know that letting the waste lying around will harm everyone and everything in San Diego.
List of Effects Improper Medical Disposal in San Diego County Has on People And Environment is Their Waste Is Not Disposed of:
1. Risk To Staff Members:
Before medical waste(San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal) goes in huge containers, so gets disposed of, it is first gathered and collected. Obviously, the people who collect the medical waste are the janitors of the hospitals. We take their labor a tab bit too lightly.
This is Due To The Fact That When Such Labor Picks Up The Medical Waste, and They Get Bacteria On Their Hand That Can Lead To Diseases Such As:
- Hepatitis
- HIV
- Ebola
- Syphilis
- Malaria
- Skin Diseases
- Skin Cancer
Now, this does not only harm those collecting the trash. If the sharp and infectious items are placed in a normal garbage container, it is extremely deadly for the hospital’s support staff. They could be assuming that what they are transporting is just your old run-of-the-mill, ordinary rubbish, while in reality, toxins, blood, or sharp items could touch them, risking their lives.
Though some of these diseases have short-term side effects and pain, most of these are long-term diseases. They leave you with regret, and if not dealt with for whatever reason, they can present death to the victim.
2. Risk To The General Civilization:
One also needs to inspect and evaluate medical waste’s threat to the larger community. The medical waste(San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal) that is disposed of improperly ends up infiltrating the landfills that are within the human vicinity. It poses a direct hazard to anyone nearby. However, it leaches harmful substances into the air, land, and water.
Because many of these chemicals have a long half-life, degrading them can take hundreds or even thousands of years. When we hear things like this on the news, it doesn’t really affect us since we can’t relate to other people’s situations because we haven’t been in their shoes. We become aware of the issue only when we become victims.
3. Our Water Supply Is Tainted:
If medical waste is not properly disposed of, it makes its way into the water system. It seeps into the groundwater after percolating through the soil. This groundwater ultimately seeps into nearby springs, streams, and rivers. But it doesn’t stop there. Medical waste has the potential to spread far beyond the point of original disposal.
This is the exact water that will subsequently be used for human consumption. Traditional disinfection procedures are inadequate. It is hazardous to humans who drink or cook with water. This water is no longer just for drinking. Watering our plants and crops or feeding our animals or cattle harms all living beings. This is because all living organisms, obviously, rely on food and water to thrive.
4. Human And Wild Life As A Whole:
If medical waste is not appropriately disposed of, it will surely end up in our oceans. Plants and other aquatic life in the area absorb them. Many of these toxins become more potent as they go up the food chain. Individuals who devour a fish towards the top of the food chain, such as tuna, will eventually die.
Medical waste in the water system unveils wildlife to the dangers of medical waste chemicals, which can result in: – Birth deformities
- Mutations.
- Increased cancer risk.
- General health issues.
- Exposure to potentially fatal illnesses.
5. Our Crops:
More research is required in this area. However, a preliminary study suggests that even seemingly “harmless” medical waste like ibuprofen may affect plant growth. It has the potential to harm root systems, although little is known about how far-reaching these effects may be. These emerging, threatening circumstances are currently being investigated.
San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal – Blog
The main section of this blog post has concluded now that we have looked deeply into the downsides and repercussions of the incorrect disposal of medical waste in San Diego County. However, before we conclude this essay, we’d like to give a few tips on properly disposing of medical waste(San Diego County Medical Waste Disposal). You should start by making a list. This list should include who, when, and what time a staff member will be allocated to tidy certain rooms. This improves communication and fosters teamwork and bonding among hospital faculty.
This Also Aids in Maintaining Discipline And Keeping The Facility Clean:
Following that, we would suggest the simplest method of collecting medical waste. Paper bags can be placed on the doorknobs of all hospital rooms. When the night shift begins, the personnel can remove the paper bags, and new paper bags can be put at the commencement of the night shifts. This procedure can then be continued indefinitely. It benefits all of the physicians who come and depart the room by placing their old masks and gloves in paper bags.
We trust that now that you understand the consequences of inappropriate medical waste disposal, you are motivated to make a difference. Making a change is difficult, but you must begin somewhere. A change now leads to a better tomorrow. A good day today will lead to an even better day tomorrow.
