Prairie Mountain Health Media Release |

New phone line to report discarded needles takes effect Monday, November 18, 2024

Prairie Mountain Health (PMH), working with the community partners in Swan River, is unveiling a sharps cleanup program for the community of Swan River. The need for enhanced sharp containers and a coordinated pick-up program was identified following collaborative meetings with Swan River municipal officials and community leaders.

As of Monday, November 18, Swan River community members can call a newly established phone line to report the finding of discarded sharps in and around the community. Residents can call 204-734-6854 to leave a message, and a designated individual will coordinate the pick-up. Regular pick-ups occur Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

PMH CEO Treena Slate says municipal representatives, on behalf of their residents, voiced concerns about discarded sharps in the community, and the region acknowledged and recognized those concerns.

In addition to the Sharp Cleanup phone line, PMH has been actively working on several additional strategies, including:
• Teams perform cleanups, Monday to Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Installing additional disposal bins in key areas.
• Coordinated tracking process to identify and clean up key areas quickly and effectively.
• Developing education for community members on safe disposal
• Work with the community and Swan River Sharps Committee to identify further initiatives.

PMH is committed to monitoring progress on these new strategies and will report findings to community leaders. Residents must exercise caution when attempting to pick up discarded needles. Additional tips and information are available on the PMH website.