Toddler pricks herself in pail of used syringes in Saskatchewan hospital

OUTLOOK, Sask. – A toddler will have to undergo two years of testing and treatment as a precaution after gaining access to an open biohazard container with needles in it at a rural Saskatchewan hospital.

Mother of two Petrina Kuzyk rushed to Outlook hospital on Friday after her older daughter suffered an allergic reaction.

She said while she was looking over her sick child with the nurse, her 19-month-old daughter accessed the container that was left on the ground in the corner of the room.

“I could see her out my peripheral, I didn’t think she was in any danger and then we heard her squeal and we both looked over and she had been playing in a pail about the size of an ice cream bucket full of used needles and blood,” said Kuzyk.

She was immediately started on medication in case of possible infection but her mother says those medications are hard on the liver, pancreas and bone marrow so she will have to make weekly visits to Saskatoon for check ups.

Kuzyk says her daughter will now have to undergo two years of medication and treatment to ensure she hasn’t picked up an infectious disease.

“It’s very disturbing, we’ve had sleepless nights all weekend, I can’t concentrate,” said Kuzyk

The Heartland Health Region says it can’t comment on individual incidents but the guidelines for sharps containers say they should be secured and out of reach.

And if a container is left on the ground without a lid?

“That definitely would be a failure in the system and we would record that as a serious incident or a critical incident that we would need to take a closer look at,” said Greg Cummings, Heartland Health Region CEO.

“The question would be whether or not it’s located in a place where it’s inaccessible to someone who could hurt themselves and also secured so the person couldn’t get their hands inside the container,” he added.

Kuzyk says the health region is covering their travel expenses to Saskatoon and says she’ll never step foot in Outlook hospital again.

She has also not ruled out legal action.