FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Thursday, May 20, 1999 Cheryl Kelly at 202/429-1120 United Nurses of America Supports National Efforts to Pass Needlestick Legislation Washington, DC -- United Nurses of America Co-Chairs Bonnie Marpoe, LPN and Kathy Sackman, RN today strongly endorsed the Health Care Worker Needlestick and Sharps Injury Prevention Act introduced by Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) and Rep. Marge Roukema (R-NJ). This national legislation will require the use of safety engineered needles and sharps in the health care arena to protect health care workers from life-threatening injuries. “Every day nurses and other health care professionals face the real possibility that they will be exposed to HIV, Hepatitis and other bloodborne diseases due to needlestick injuries. As nurses we are charged with providing quality care, but we must be able to care for our patients without fear of contracting infectious life-threatening diseases from needlesticks. “The need for this legislation is clear: an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 occupational needstick injuries occur every year and from these more than 1,000 health care professionals contract serious diseases, including 40 to 50 who contract HIV. This legislation will address dangerous workplace conditions in our nation’s hospitals and clinics. Health care professionals will be far less likely to have to wait in fear for the results of an HIV or Hepatitis test because they will finally have access to safer needles and sharps. “The United Nurses of America, the nursing branch of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), urges members of the U.S. House of Representatives to stand up for our nation’s health care professionals by co-sponsoring the Health Care Worker Needlestick and Sharps Injury Prevention Act.” Statement by AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee on National Needlestick Legislation # # # American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO 1625 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-5687 Telephone (202) 429-1130 Fax (202) 429-1120