Read Online Bad Hair Day 2 - Hair Raiser by Nancy J. Cohen - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nancy J. Cohen
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called an assistant to hold Spooks while she performed her examination and administered the injections. "That's the sharps container. It's for needles and syringes. We also have one in surgery for disposable instruments."
Marla cringed as the first shot hit home and Spooks whimpered. "I see. And what happens to that box?"
The doctor frowned. "Why do you want to know?"
She shrugged. "Just curious. I've seen them in doctor's offices, but I never figured a vet would need them, too."
The woman smiled. "We follow very strict government guidelines. There are separate bins for other waste products. You know, bloody drapes and gauzes, body tissues. Of course, animal carcasses go to the pet cemetery to be cremated. We follow the owner's wishes in that regard."
"So what happens when the containers are filled?"
"They get picked up, but I'm not sure by whom. Dr. Evans would have that information, and he's not here today." The vet finished her exam and handed Spooks back to Marla. "He's in top shape, Miss Shore. Y'all have a good day now."
Marla exited in a thoughtful mood, depositing Spooks at home and going about her errands until her dental appointment. Sure enough, sitting on the counter at the dentist's treatment room was another one of the red plastic containers. This one was cylindrical in shape with a clear round top. It had a sticker on its side with the standard biohazard symbol. Also in the room was a tall bin with the same markings.
"What do you put in there?" Marla mumbled in the middle of rinsing her mouth. The cup never seemed to hold enough water. She flipped the handle and a thin stream flowed into the small paper receptacle. A second rinse washed out the coppery taste of blood. Leaning back in the chair, she wiped her chin with the bib tied to her chest.
The dental hygienist, a talkative blond who wore a plastic face guard and latex gloves, resumed scraping tartar from Marla's teeth. "That one is the sharps container." The girl pointed to the cylindrical tub. "Needles, explorer tips, things like that go inside. The biohazardous waste bin is for gauzes, bibs, cotton, other items soiled with blood, and sometimes teeth. It gets emptied once a month into a larger red bag in the back."
Marla made a garbled attempt to ask another question, but the girl placed a saliva ejector in her mouth, making communication impossible. She had to wait for the next break in their routine when the girl switched to a tooth-polishing phase using a slow-speed handpiece instrument. As soon as she was ordered to rinse again, Marla barked out her next inquiry.
"Who picks up the bags and sharps containers?"
"There's a driver who comes by each month. You can ask Dr. Stiller. He'd know more about it."
Marla fell silent so the girl could finish her job. By the time they were done, her teeth felt clean and polished, and she felt guilty craving a cup of coffee. Caffeine wasn't the best thing for your enamel, but she was never one to refuse any of its liquid forms. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and cola were her favorite drinks. So she'd get her teeth bleached someday. The price was worth it; she would never give up her daily stimulant. At least she wasn't a chocoholic like Tally. Even with the cream and sugar she put in her coffee, the calories wouldn't add up as much as a few Godivas.
Marla waited for the dentist to give her a clean bill of health before diving into her next query. "Can you tell me who is responsible for picking up your biomedical waste each month?" she asked, glad to be free of the bib around her neck. She sat up in the chair, swinging her legs over its edge.
Dr. Stiller regarded her with his luminous blue eyes. He had an almost mischievous appearance with short reddish brown hair, freckles, and a perennially boyish expression. Young looking for his forty-some years, his even features added to his allure. The man always asked about her life and work as though he really cared, and she appreciated his interest
Marla cringed as the first shot hit home and Spooks whimpered. "I see. And what happens to that box?"
The doctor frowned. "Why do you want to know?"
She shrugged. "Just curious. I've seen them in doctor's offices, but I never figured a vet would need them, too."
The woman smiled. "We follow very strict government guidelines. There are separate bins for other waste products. You know, bloody drapes and gauzes, body tissues. Of course, animal carcasses go to the pet cemetery to be cremated. We follow the owner's wishes in that regard."
"So what happens when the containers are filled?"
"They get picked up, but I'm not sure by whom. Dr. Evans would have that information, and he's not here today." The vet finished her exam and handed Spooks back to Marla. "He's in top shape, Miss Shore. Y'all have a good day now."
Marla exited in a thoughtful mood, depositing Spooks at home and going about her errands until her dental appointment. Sure enough, sitting on the counter at the dentist's treatment room was another one of the red plastic containers. This one was cylindrical in shape with a clear round top. It had a sticker on its side with the standard biohazard symbol. Also in the room was a tall bin with the same markings.
"What do you put in there?" Marla mumbled in the middle of rinsing her mouth. The cup never seemed to hold enough water. She flipped the handle and a thin stream flowed into the small paper receptacle. A second rinse washed out the coppery taste of blood. Leaning back in the chair, she wiped her chin with the bib tied to her chest.
The dental hygienist, a talkative blond who wore a plastic face guard and latex gloves, resumed scraping tartar from Marla's teeth. "That one is the sharps container." The girl pointed to the cylindrical tub. "Needles, explorer tips, things like that go inside. The biohazardous waste bin is for gauzes, bibs, cotton, other items soiled with blood, and sometimes teeth. It gets emptied once a month into a larger red bag in the back."
Marla made a garbled attempt to ask another question, but the girl placed a saliva ejector in her mouth, making communication impossible. She had to wait for the next break in their routine when the girl switched to a tooth-polishing phase using a slow-speed handpiece instrument. As soon as she was ordered to rinse again, Marla barked out her next inquiry.
"Who picks up the bags and sharps containers?"
"There's a driver who comes by each month. You can ask Dr. Stiller. He'd know more about it."
Marla fell silent so the girl could finish her job. By the time they were done, her teeth felt clean and polished, and she felt guilty craving a cup of coffee. Caffeine wasn't the best thing for your enamel, but she was never one to refuse any of its liquid forms. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and cola were her favorite drinks. So she'd get her teeth bleached someday. The price was worth it; she would never give up her daily stimulant. At least she wasn't a chocoholic like Tally. Even with the cream and sugar she put in her coffee, the calories wouldn't add up as much as a few Godivas.
Marla waited for the dentist to give her a clean bill of health before diving into her next query. "Can you tell me who is responsible for picking up your biomedical waste each month?" she asked, glad to be free of the bib around her neck. She sat up in the chair, swinging her legs over its edge.
Dr. Stiller regarded her with his luminous blue eyes. He had an almost mischievous appearance with short reddish brown hair, freckles, and a perennially boyish expression. Young looking for his forty-some years, his even features added to his allure. The man always asked about her life and work as though he really cared, and she appreciated his interest
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