Medical professionals all over the world know how to use a needle, but the skill is becoming one that patients and their families need to know.Many people prefer to give themselves injections at home rather than in a clinical setting.It is possible to take care of a medical condition in the privacy of your home if you learn the proper technique and pay attention to safety precautions.
Step 1: Pick out your supplies.
You will need a sharps container, a needle, alcohol pads, and a cotton ball.The rubber top of the medication container needs to be wiped with the alcohol pad.You will need to clean the area where the injection will be administered.The cotton ball and bandage are used to cover the area where you injected the medication.The sharps container has a thick plastic bin that holds used supplies.These items are called sharps when you use them.Storage of used sharps is important.When the containers are full, they can be moved to a place that doesn't use biohazard equipment.Each state and/or city may have their own procedures for disposing of dead people.Specific instructions on how to dispose of hazardous materials can be found on the local health department website.
Step 2: You can read the literature.
The product literature that comes with the medication gives instructions on how to prepare the drug for administration.It is very important that a qualified medical professional trains you on preparation and how to administer the medication, as this literature should be considered a refresher and not the sole source of information.You should not try to give someone an injection if you have not received this training.Some medications are packaged differently.Some medications need to be reconstituted with water before they can be administered, while others need only the needle and syringe that come with the product.The steps you need to take are specific to the medication.The majority of injections will be done using a single dose.Either single dose or abbreviation will be on the label.If you withdraw the amount of medication you need, only one dose can be given from that vial.A multi-dose-vial is a medication that is packaged in a container.The abbreviation MDV will be on the package label.A multi-dose vial is when there are more than one injection.This is rare for home use medication.When the container is first opened, write the date using a marker that won't wipe off.If your doctor advises you differently, this type of product should not be used for 30 days after the first date of opening.The products should be kept in the refrigerator, but not frozen.
Step 3: Look at the medication.
If you want to maintain your safety, you need to make sure you have the right medicine and strength.The expired date should not have passed.The product should be stored according to the manufacturer's guidelines.Some products can be stored at room temperature, while others need to be refrigerated.The packaging needs to be checked.Make sure there are no cracks or dents in the container that holds the medication.Look for particulate matter.You have to look at the medication in the container to make sure it's not floating.Take a look at the seal.Make sure there are no cracks or dents in the seal.
Step 4: Take a look at the needle and syringe.
The syringe and needle should not have been damaged.The rubber top on the plunger and visible cracks in the barrel indicate that the syringe should not be used.The needle should be examined for damage.The needle should not be bent or broken.Don't use products that look like they have been damaged.Many packaged needles do not have an expiration date.Contact the manufacturer if you are not sure.There are lots of numbers available when you call.In a sharps container, discard damaged or deteriorated needles.
Step 5: Make sure you have the correct type of needle.
Do not swap types.The wrong type of needle can result in giving the wrong amount of medication.The needles are only intended for administering the drug.The barrels are marked in units and have specific markings on them.The amount of the dose should be less than the amount in your syringe.The type of injection you are going to administer should dictate the length of the needle.You should have been trained by your doctor or pharmacist on how to use the drug.Once you have received adequate training, you can use the product literature as a reference.Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.They can help you to make sure you have the correct unit for the medication.
Step 6: Practice using the safety features of the syringe.
Once the medication has been drawn up, safety needles have a patented way to recap the needle.Before drawing up the actual dose of medication, practice this method.You can be prepared to re-cap the needle if you don't give the prepared dose immediately.The practice needle should be discarded in a sharps container.Re-capping can result in accidental needle sticks, so it's not a good idea.
Step 7: You should wash your hands.
Use soap and water to clean your hands.You should wash your nail area and fingers.
Step 8: Do you need to mix the medication gently?
Before drawing it up, some medication needs to be gently mixed.Place the medication between your hands.If you shake it, it will create bubbles.There are products that should be gently mixed.
Step 9: The cap needs to be removed.
The alcohol pad can be used to wipe the rubber seal.The alcohol should be allowed to air-dry.Don't blow on it or fan it with your hand.The area may be contaminated by doing this.
Step 10: The plunger needs to be pulled back.
The amount of medication you need to draw up is equal to the line on the barrel.
Step 11: The needle cover has to be removed.
Don't touch the needle.
Step 12: The rubber center has a needle in it.
As you push the needle into the bottle, use a straight motion.
Step 13: The needle needs to be pushed down.
The air from the needle enters the bottle.The amount of air you put in is equal to the medication you will be removing.
Step 14: The bottle should be turned upside-down.
Do not try to remove the needle from the bottle.The bottle should be held between your thumb and index finger.Use your other hand to support the needle.Don't allow the needle to bend.
Step 15: The plunger needs to be pulled back.
The line on the barrel of the syringe indicates the prescribed amount of medication.Don't remove the needle yet.
Step 16: Air bubbles can be found in the medication.
The needle is in the barrel.If there are air bubbles in the medication, this will move them to the needle.
Step 17: The plunger should be gently pushed.
Push the plunger until the air bubbles are removed.As you remove the air bubbles, a small amount of medication may squirt out.
Step 18: If necessary, draw more medication.
Once you have removed the air bubbles, you should check the amount of medication left in the syringe to make sure you get the right dose.
Step 19: The needle needs to be removed from the container.
You don't want to touch the needle when you put the medication into the syringe.If you don't plan to give the injection immediately, you should put a safety cover on the needle.If you don't have a safety re-cap feature, use the needle to scoop up the original needle covering.You can put it in place with your fingers.
Step 20: Give the injection.
Depending on the type of injection being given, injection techniques vary.
Step 21: Safe injection practices can be used.
According to the World Health Organization, there are 4 areas of focus in giving injections.Avoid giving unnecessary injections.Always use sterile equipment.The injection should not be contaminated as it is prepared.The used needles should be thrown away.
Step 22: Don't use a needle again.
The needle should be thrown in a sharps container once the injection has been given.A needle that has pierced the skin of someone is not only dulled, but contaminated with diseases.
Step 23: Get a sharps container.
Sharps containers are designed to be a safe way to dispose of needles.You can buy sharps containers at your local pharmacy or online.They should not be put in the regular trash.If you don't have access to a sharps container, you can use an empty laundry detergent container that has a tight-fitting lid.When the container is full, take it to a sharps disposal location with the words "Sharps Biohazard" written on it.
Step 24: Your state's guidelines should be reviewed.
Many states have programs that can help you develop a regular system for disposing of biohazardous waste.Since they came in contact with someone's skin or blood, sharps are considered to be biohazardous waste.
Step 25: Work with a mailbox.
If you agree to set up an arrangement for you to safely mail the containers back to the company when they are full, they will supply you with the appropriate sizes of sharps containers.According to the EPA, FDA, and state requirements, the company will dispose of the biohazard materials appropriately.
Step 26: Talk to your pharmacy about unused drugs.
There are specific guidelines for the disposal of unused medications in some states.You may be able to place the opened medication directly into the sharps containers.The proper disposal of unused medication can be advised by your pharmacy, physician, mailback company, or state agency.
Step 27: There are different types of needles.
The parts of syringes are categorized by how they function.
Step 28: There is a luer-lok needle.
luer-lok syringes are common in clinical practice.The locking mechanism built into the tip of the syringe is described by Luer-Lok.Once the needles are twisted in place, the mechanism works.It takes an added step in assembly to use this type of syringe.The added step is to secure the needle before drawing up the medication.
Step 29: For a specific function, identify the syringes that are designed for them.
There are a number of syringe types that are designed for a certain purpose or function.The purpose of the needles is to giveinsulin.The barrel is graduated in units.When you need to give a very small dose of a medication, tuberculin syringes are used.
Step 30: Know what makes a safety injection device different.
A safety unit is an all-in-one unit.The added step of attaching the needle by hand is not needed because the syringe has a pre-attached needle.There is a built-in mechanism that can be used to cover the needle once the medication has been administered to the patient.Regulatory agencies are mandating the use of safety needles in healthcare facilities due to the increasing number of accidents.The CDC and the World Health Organization recommend safety needles.
Step 31: The parts of a needle.
There are 3 basic parts to a syringe.The barrel, plunger, and tip are included.
Step 32: The barrel does something.
The middle part of the barrel holds the medication.The barrel is marked with numbers and lines.As you fill the syringe, these help to guide you.The inside of the barrel is sterile.The numbers show the amount of medication you are taking.There is an abbreviation for milliliters.The abbreviation isccs.One liter is the same as one liter.The numbers and lines on the needle show the units of the drug being drawn into it.The graduated measurement is in smaller or lighter type.The number of units being drawn up is the main focus of an injection device.
Step 33: The plunger needs to be recognized.
As you fill the syringe, you use the plunger to manipulate it.The end of the needle extends out from the bottom, and glides inside the barrel.You can use this action to draw up the correct amount of medication.The rubber tip of the plunger is sterile.The lower part of the needle is extended.When you give the injection, you push this part as well.
Step 34: You should know about the tip of the needle.
The needle is on the tip of the syringe.Safety needles are available with the needle already attached for convenience and safety reasons.The needle needs to be attached to the luer-lok syringe.The grooves on this type of needle allow it to be securely attached to the tip of the syringe with a simple twisting motion.
Step 35: Take a look at the parts of the needle.
The tip of the syringe has a needle attached to it.The hub, shaft, and bevel are included.The closest part to the barrel is the hub.The longest part of the needle is the shaft.The needle's tip comes in contact with the skin of the person receiving it.There is a slight slant on the very tip of the needle.
Step 36: The proper needle unit should be chosen.
Many drugs that must be administered by injection are now being packaged by the manufacturers in kits that contain everything you would need, including the needle.If you need to purchase the combo unit separately from the medication, you should look for safety needles that work for the delivery site.For safety reasons, it's not a good idea to buy syringes separately from needles.Hospitals are being mandated to use safety needle combo units to reduce the risk of infections and needle stick injuries that may occur to the staff.
Step 37: Know what the numbers mean.
It is important that you understand what you need to do in order to give the injection in the correct way.There are 3 different numbers on the package labeling for an all-in-one needle unit.The number indicates the size of the barrel.The length of the needle will be given by a second number.The gauge of the needle is indicated by the third number.Pick a needle that holds more than you need to inject.If your medication requires you to inject 2cc, the same as 2mls, then you will want to choose a larger syringe.The place where the medication needs to be delivered has a specific needle length.A shorter needle is needed for something that needs to go under the skin.Selecting a longer needle size is necessary if you need to deliver the medication into a muscle.It's important to consider the size of the person getting the injection.People with less body fat may need a longer needle to reach a muscle.The gauge tells you how fat the needle is.The measure is the diameter of the hole inside the needle.A bigger needle is needed to properly pass the medication through it and into the skin.The medications can be given with a skinnier needle.The gauge of the needle is shown by numbers that are backwards.The larger numbers show the actual diameter of the needle.It would be easier for a thicker medication to pass through using an 18 gauge needle.A 23 gauge needle has a smaller diameter.If you want the medication you need to inject to work, try to pick the smallest diameter of the needle, meaning a higher number.The larger the number, the smaller it is.
Step 38: You can learn about the types of injections.
The medications that are in the syringes are intended to be injected.There are 3 primary routes for giving injections.Subcutaneous injections can be administered at home.In a way, it is administered.Injections are more complicated than injections.The medication needs to be delivered into the muscle tissue.The final route is called IV.Unless someone has an indwelling venous catheter, this is not a common route of administration.Unless a port-a-cath and patient's have been trained sufficiently, IV medication should be administered at home.If this is done wrong, it can introducebacteria into the blood stream and cause a deadly infection.