Girl steps on needle at New Hampshire beach

HAMPTON, NH — A young girl had to be treated after officials say she stepped on a needle at Hampton Beach.

Amy Bassett, the Assistant Director for New Hampshire Travel and Tourism says on June 4, a 10-year-old girl stepped on a hypodermic needle on the beach’s north end.

A lifeguard treated the girl, disposed of the needle, and urged the girl’s parents to take her to the hospital for further testing.

“It wasn’t really a syringe, it was the needle. And he extracted it, cleaned the wound,” said Chief Jim Donahue.

State park officials say it’s not an isolated incident. They’ve already found four needles on Hampton Beach this season. State crews are coming the sand for hours every night with a special rake.

Lifeguards have also been working with police and EMS for new training to look out for dangerous items in the sand, but to also recognize signs of possible drug users so they can report them before they discard their needles.

State park officials say along with the beach raking, they also have community volunteers who come out regularly to clean the beach and look for needles.

Cox Media Group