2 young girls were stuck by a used syringe while playing outside in Arlington

Two young girls were stuck by a discarded hypodermic needle during an after-school program in Arlington, and officials say they’re going to take action.The two girls, 5 and 7 years old, were playing outside as part of the Arlington Recreation Kid Care program around 4 p.m. Tuesday on the Foster Street side of the Gibbs School. One of them picked up the used syringe and was stuck in the hand, according to a release from the town and police department. The other girl removed the needle from her peer’s hand, and she was then stuck by it, too.Police arrived on scene first and treated the two until firefighters and medics arrived, officials said.“The syringe was placed in a sharps container, and the girls were transported to Winchester Hospital for tests and treatment,” according to the release. “Medical officials will conduct tests on the syringe to determine any further care that the girls may need.”Town officials planned to meet Wednesday morning to devise a response and a plan.“It is extremely concerning that a hypodermic needle would be so carelessly disposed of on the ground of a school, where children constantly gather, walk and play,” Superintendent Kathleen Bodie said in the release. “We are instructing facilities staff at all of our buildings to conduct extensive and scheduled searches of the grounds and perimeters to ensure that if anything else is out there, that it is immediately and safely disposed of.”