Teens using livestock needles to pierce bodies in Umatilla County
UMATILLA COUNTY - The idea of kids piercing their own ears has been around for decades often with mom's sewing needle or even just a safety pin. However, KEPR learned of some home-piercings on much more sensitive areas.
One parent who’s expressed concern over this is Rachel Moore. She has set rules for her family just like everyone else. One is no piercings before age 18, but her 14 year-old recently pushed the envelope.
“I realized I saw something metal hanging out of her belly button, and asked her what it was,” said Moore.
Rachel was shocked to learn not only did her 14 year old have a belly-button ring, but it had been pierced at school by a friend using a livestock needle.
“They just said they lean back, someone pulls their belly button and just pierces it and just the pain of it, I can't imagine going back to class,” added Moore.
Students said they bought the needles at Pendleton Grain Growers during their lunch break. And this is more than just an isolated incident. The needles cost around $.59, so they’re definitely in the price range for a high school student.
Parents told KEPR their main concern is the fact that these needles could have very harmful side effects on their children.
“You run the risk of infection, more so on your own because you're not taking extra safety precautions,” said Umatilla County Public Health Administrator Genni Lehnert-Beers.
The public health division says besides infection, sharing needles is where the real danger comes in because of the risk of hepatitis.
Even when KEPR showed the livestock needle to the health division's head administrator, Lehnert-Beers couldn't believe it.
“Honestly, if I had opened a needle like that thought about piercing myself, I would change my mind.”
PGG has stopped selling the needles to minors, but this one store is far from the only place they can be found.
“This could be a total trend everywhere that people just don't know about until a kid dies,” said Moore.
Which is why Rachel is telling her story now, as a warning to other parents.
KEPR also spoke to the Benton-Franklin Health District. They said they hadn't heard any official reports of similar trends in the Tri-Cities, but wouldn't be surprised if students were doing the same thing here.
One parent who’s expressed concern over this is Rachel Moore. She has set rules for her family just like everyone else. One is no piercings before age 18, but her 14 year-old recently pushed the envelope.
“I realized I saw something metal hanging out of her belly button, and asked her what it was,” said Moore.
Rachel was shocked to learn not only did her 14 year old have a belly-button ring, but it had been pierced at school by a friend using a livestock needle.
“They just said they lean back, someone pulls their belly button and just pierces it and just the pain of it, I can't imagine going back to class,” added Moore.
Students said they bought the needles at Pendleton Grain Growers during their lunch break. And this is more than just an isolated incident. The needles cost around $.59, so they’re definitely in the price range for a high school student.
Parents told KEPR their main concern is the fact that these needles could have very harmful side effects on their children.
“You run the risk of infection, more so on your own because you're not taking extra safety precautions,” said Umatilla County Public Health Administrator Genni Lehnert-Beers.
The public health division says besides infection, sharing needles is where the real danger comes in because of the risk of hepatitis.
Even when KEPR showed the livestock needle to the health division's head administrator, Lehnert-Beers couldn't believe it.
“Honestly, if I had opened a needle like that thought about piercing myself, I would change my mind.”
PGG has stopped selling the needles to minors, but this one store is far from the only place they can be found.
“This could be a total trend everywhere that people just don't know about until a kid dies,” said Moore.
Which is why Rachel is telling her story now, as a warning to other parents.
KEPR also spoke to the Benton-Franklin Health District. They said they hadn't heard any official reports of similar trends in the Tri-Cities, but wouldn't be surprised if students were doing the same thing here.
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