"Large amount" of blood sprays out of Minneapolis sewer -- covers worker, gets in his mouth.

[LiberalHeart]

Oh yum. Just in time for my dinner-time reading:

http://newsgrinder.blogspot.com/2007/03/large-amount-of-blood-sprays-out-of.html

(not for those with weak stomachs)

[Booster]

1. Wow. File this under "yuk".

[LiberalHeart]

7. The really delicious part: blood from the slaughter houses ... mmmm

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Blood or rusty water?

Not that rusty water would be any better, but that seems much more likely to come from a sewer in large quantity.

[rodeodance]

5. near a lab that does medical testing and dumps blood into the sewer.

"A Minneapolis city worker is worried about blood in the sewer system because he said, while he was cleaning the system, blood sprayed out of a hole and got all over him.

"'We could tell it was blood, I mean large amount of blood,'" said Minneapolis Sewer Maintenance Worker Ron Huebner.

"It happened about two weeks ago in Northeast Minneapolis near a lab that does medical testing and dumps blood into the sewer. It is allowed but the city is now making changes to help protect workers in the future.

"'Blood just all over my face, in my mouth, I could taste it. It was terrible. I had it in my mouth and I kept spitting and I couldn't get rid of it,' said Huebner."

There's more, so visit the link.

[TechBear_Seattle]

13. I clicked the link after I posted

I should know better than that. :banghead:

As disturbing as it is that biological waste can just be dumped in the sewers, I find it even more disturbing that the concentration would be enough to be noticeable.

When I test my blood sugar, I am required by Washington State law to put the used test strips and sharps into an approved biohazard container (I get one about every 4 months from my local drug store for about $6) and, when full, dispose of it by taking to a facility that accepts home biohazard materials (the county refuse facility about 10 miles from my home; hospitals, research facilities and other sources of large scale bio-waste must contract with an authorized disposal service.) Technically, every used test strip or sharp that I put into a regular trash can is a felony. I thought similar laws were in place throughout the country; I am shocked that the regular, wholesale dumping of human blood into a public sewage system is allowed anywhere.

[rumpel]

3. the actual news on CBS

http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_088224059.html

a nearby lab dumps blood into sewer...
it says it is "allowed"

[Warpy]

9. We dumped awful stuff into the drains in hospitals

and the theory is that it's all taken care of at the sewage treatment plant.

That does take care of blood and contaminated human waste (like infectious diarrhea), but I always had to wonder about the chemo drugs in urine and stool that went with them.

Yeah, this is yuk. All I can think of is that they were clearing that drain because the lab had complained their drains were slowing down and that there was a backup of concentrated waste past the blockage.

I feel sorry for that poor sewer worker. A course of prophylactic antibiotics should put his mind to rest. Transmission of HIV is unlikely unless he had some sort of mouth sore or bad gum disease. HIV is destroyed by stomach acid if he swallowed any of it.

One of the things a nurse learns is to keep his/her mouth SHUT when doing icky jobs. Maybe this accident will compel management to supply face shields that snap onto those hard hats. It's overdue, IMO, because even ordinary sewer waste can make them sick as hell if it gets near mucus membranes.

[w4rma]

4. "R & D told the city the blood shouldn't present any risk" How the heck can this be true? (nt)

[LiberalHeart]

6. um, it *can't* be true.

[Firespirit]

8. WHAT?

Maybe I am missing something here, but it just seems to me that a biological substance such as blood dumped into a sewer would be a perfect breeding ground for all manner of bacteria.

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. Pretty much anything that goes in a sewer is a breeding ground for bacteria. n/t

[karlrschneider]

10. Nasty stuff in a SEWER? Who could ever imagine such a thing?

:eyes:

[AngryAmish]

12. C.H.U.D.

It is the only logical explanation.

[TahitiNut]

14. Just in time for Passover? (Anyone painting door frames?)

:puke:

[Mojambo]

15. Adrian Monk's head just exploded. n/t

[LiberalHeart]

16. Ha! Yes! What a great idea for a Monk script....

Love that show. Even when it's bad, it's good. Wish it'd be on year 'round with fresh servings every week.

[knitter4democracy]

17. Hubby and I just shuddered.

I would get tested and keep getting tested for everything. Hep, you name it. Ick, ick, ick!!!