Watch First: Marc Koska: 1.3m reasons to re-invent the syringe
 |
| http://safepointtrust.blogspot.com/2010/05/marc-koska-launches-lifesaver.html |
When's the last time you got a shot? Here in America, we are usually fortunate enough to not have to worry about our safety when we go to get our tetanus shot or a blood test (we're much more worried about how much it will hurt), but in other places, people aren't so lucky.
Around the world, the unsafe reuse of syringes kills 1.3 million people each year. Especially in the poorer areas of the world, doctors and clinics are injecting patients (against their knowledge) with syringes that have already been used. In places like Pakistan, children are paid to look through the garbage and collect used syringes to be rinsed, repackaged, and sold again in local markets. In Indonesia, used syringes like these are sold as toys, and children use them like water pistols. All of these practices are extremely unsafe, and encourage the spread of diseases, which can be devastating in areas with already high concentrations of people with HIV.
Marc Koska decided to set out and fix this. His result (and great idea) was a syringe that, once used, cannot be reused again. Priced the same as a normal syringe (about $0.05), Koska hopes that this will be a huge step in preventing the unsafe reuse of syringes. He has also started a campaign called LifeSaver to encourage the safe use and procedure of syringes all around the globe.
