Hypodermic needles should __, to avoid needle stick injury.

Hypodermic needles should __, to avoid needle stick injury.

• A. Never be recapped
• B. Recapped after use
• C. Left uncapped during disposal
• D. Blunted before disposal

Answer: (A)

Never recapping used needles prevents needle-stick injuries. Recapping brings your hands close to the contaminated tip and can easily cause a puncture if the needle slips or you lose grip. The safe approach is to immediately dispose of the needle in an approved sharps container without recapping, using proper one-handed or device-assisted techniques if available. Leaving the needle uncapped during disposal is unsafe because exposure can occur while handling or moving the container. Blunting the needle before disposal isn’t a recognized safety step. So, the best practice is to never recap.

Never recapping used needles prevents needle-stick injuries. Recapping brings your hands close to the contaminated tip and can easily cause a puncture if the needle slips or you lose grip. The safe approach is to immediately dispose of the needle in an approved sharps container without recapping, using proper one-handed or device-assisted techniques if available. Leaving the needle uncapped during disposal is unsafe because exposure can occur while handling or moving the container. Blunting the needle before disposal isn’t a recognized safety step. So, the best practice is to never recap.