Hudson Valley Toddler Pricked by Used Needle Found in Yard

According to the Hudson Valley News Network, New York State Trooper Brian Weglinski and his wife and children had a major scare on Sunday at their home on Scenic drive in the Town of Poughkeepsie.

Weglinski’s young daughter Giuliana was out playing with her brother in the family’s front yard when 3-year-old Trevor found a used hypodermic syringe in some grass near the edge of the road.

He accidentally poked his sister’s finger with it before the children’s parents could get to it.

Jessica Weglinski told HVNN:

“I immediately freaked out, and then we called the pediatrician and decided to take her to the ER to get her checked out. I was, of course, in shock and just upset that someone could be that negligent and deliberately either walk down the road and throw it in our yard or drive down the road and throw it out their car window into our yard.”

The little girl, Giuliana, was tested for HIV and both hepatitis C and B, and all the tests have come back negative. She must be re-tested for HIV in another six weeks and three months after that.

State police have issued a press release, cautioning parents to talk to their children about the potential for accidental needle injuries. The press release also said that, “Syringes and other drug paraphernalia can be located on private property, public property, in parking areas, beaches and even playgrounds, Needlestick injuries can occur when syringes are not discarded properly. Used needles may have bodily fluids that carry blood borne infectious diseases.”