Safe disposal of surgical sponges

A surgical sponge storage and counting system for use in a surgical operating room, comprising:

• a pail;
• a stand;
• a pail supporting member for supporting said pail;
• means for mounting said pail supporting member on said stand and for adjusting the height of said pail above the floor;
• and
• a bag member receivable in said pail for containing and storing used surgical sponges, the bag member further comprising a first sheet of flexible material forming a main bag having a periphery defining an open end of said main bag, a plurality of second bag members mounted to said first sheet and forming sponge holding bags mounted and spaced apart in a zone with annular proximity to the periphery, each second bag member having an upper open end, which faces away from the periphery and defines part of an inner edge of the zone with annular proximity to the periphery, and a lower closed end, which faces toward the periphery, the portion of the first sheet within the inner edge of the zone with annular proximity to the periphery adapted to be formed into a pail liner in a pail for receiving surgical sponges whereby the second bag members thereby hang at the outer sides of the pail with the upper open end above the lower closed end such that the second bag members may receive surgical sponges.