Police have issued a public safety alert after a child picked up a discarded syringe on the playground at Montrose Junior Public School Monday morning, the latest in a string of incidents involving people finding used needles around the city.

The incident happened around 8:45 a.m. Monday morning in the Bickford Park school, located on Montrose Ave. near Harbord St. and Ossington Ave., according to a Monday news release.

Police said the child found a syringe in the playground area behind the school and, unaware of the potential risks, picked it up. The child later informed a teacher, who found a second syringe in the same area, said the release.

Police said the child was not poked and that all needles were disposed of appropriately.

This is at least the second instance of children finding used syringes while at school in less than a week.

On Wednesday morning, three 5-year-olds at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Roncesvalles found discarded syringes while playing near the school’s property line during recess. The children reported to staff that they were poked by the needles, and were taken to hospital for treatment.

A Facebook post made Wednesday night by the mother of one of the children called for parents to educate their kids about the dangers of needles. It has gained 25,000 shares and nearly 4,000 comments since it was posted.

Const. David Hopkinson said police have seen an increase in people stumbling upon discarded syringes in public spaces over the last several days, including some instances at or near schools that have not been released to the public.

“We’ve see a number of kids finding syringes in and around the city over the last few days,” he said. “It presents a danger, and we want to remind parents to have a conversation with their kids about the dangers of syringes.”

Children should be advised not touch syringes and to notify an adult immediately. Adults should call 311 to request a pickup and be cautious if moving a syringe.

Anyone with information about Monday’s incident is asked to contact police at 416-808-1400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.

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