NEWPORT BEACH : Bag With 35 Syringes Found Afloat in Surf

The owner of a surf shop found a plastic bag containing 35 used syringes floating in about two feet of water just off the beach Wednesday morning.

T.K. Brimer, 45, owner of the Frog House, said he was surfing just south of the Santa Ana River mouth when he spotted the bag.

“My first reaction was to get away from it,” Brimer said.

Brimer said he took the syringes to nearby Hoag Hospital. After determining that the instruments had not come from that hospital, officials there disposed of them.

“This happens about three times a year,” hospital spokeswoman Maureen Mazzatenta said.

The source of the bag is not known.

Dr. Hugh Stallworth, county director of public health, said that even one used syringe can pose a potential public health problem.

“Since you don’t know who used it, you have to worry about blood-borne diseases,” he said.

The beach, however, remains open.

Police said they were not notified of the incident despite the fact that they investigate such finds to determine the source.

“I’ve heard of it happening a couple of times in the past, but I would not call it routine,” police Lt. Doug Fletcher said.

Stallworth said he is not aware of a county agency that is responsible for investigating syringes or other discarded medical items found in beach areas.