If you have to inject your medicines yourself at home, proper training is necessary to prevent injuries and infections. With the right care, and sufficient attention to detail, it is not difficult at all to give an injection. Start at Step 1 to learn how to give subcutaneous and intramuscular injections.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: The preparation
Step 1. Determine what type of injection you are going to give
Read the instructions that you have received from the doctor, nurse or pharmacist. If the medication has instructions, read them. If you have any questions or concerns about how and when to give the injection, talk to your doctor (or other medical professional) before proceeding. There are two common injections that you can legally give at home: subcutaneous and intramuscular injections. If you are not sure which type of injection to give, talk to the doctor, nurse or pharmacist before continuing.
- Subcutaneous injections are given into the fat layer directly under the skin. Examples include insulin for diabetic patients, and blood thinners.
- Intramuscular injections are injected directly into muscle tissue. Examples include vaccinations, hormones, and antibiotics.
Step 2. Wash your hands thoroughly
This will help prevent infections.
Step 3. Prepare the medication and needle
Make sure the needle is sterile, unused, and appropriate for the type of injection you will be giving. Note that intramuscular and subcutaneous injections require different needles.
- Some medicines are ready to use right away, but for others you need to fill the needle with medication from an ampoule. In the second case, sterilize the top of the ampoule with alcohol and remove the needle from the packaging. Read the instructions to determine how much liquid you need.
- To fill the syringe, draw in as much air as required liquid. Hold the ampoule upside down, insert the needle, and inject all the air from the syringe into the ampoule. Pull back on the plunger to withdraw the liquid from the ampoule.
Step 4. Put the patient at ease
Consider numbing the area with ice before injecting, especially if the child is a child. Have him/her sit in a comfortable position, exposing the area where the injection is to be given.
Part 2 of 3: Giving a subcutaneous injection
Step 1. Based on the doctor's instructions, determine where to give the injection
Choose an area with a lot of meat, such as the upper arm.
Alternating between injection sites can prevent bruising. You can switch arms and places to make it less painful
Step 2. Clean the skin on and around the injection site with rubbing alcohol
Allow the alcohol to dry thoroughly before giving the injection. This shouldn't take more than a minute or two.
Step 3. Insert the needle quickly and gently at a 45-degree angle
Hold the patient's arm with your free hand and bring the needle in quickly-don't apply any tension to it, or do a dramatic countdown. By doing it quickly, the patient won't have time to cramp, and you'll make sure it happens easily and quickly.
Pull the plunger back slightly to check for blood in the syringe. If there is blood in it, carefully remove the needle and try to give the injection in a different site. If there is no blood in it, continue
Step 4. Inject the drug
Push the plunger all the way down until all the liquid has been injected.
Step 5. Remove the needle
Squeeze the skin over the injection site, and remove the needle gently and quickly-do it at the same angle you inserted the needle. If you did it right, the whole process shouldn't have taken more than five to ten seconds.
Part 3 of 3: Giving an intramuscular injection
Step 1. Determine the injection site
Frequently used areas include the buttocks and thighs.
Alternate injection sites to avoid bruising and irritation
Step 2. Clean the skin on and around the injection site with rubbing alcohol
Allow the alcohol to dry thoroughly before giving the injection.
Step 3. Insert the needle through the skin into the muscle tissue at a 90 degree angle
Hold the area with your free hand, and bring the needle in quickly - don't increase the tension.
Step 4. Pull the plunger back slightly to check for blood in the syringe
If there is blood in it, carefully remove the needle and try to give the injection in a different site. If there is no blood in it, continue.
Step 5. Gently inject the drug
Push the plunger all the way down until all the liquid has been injected. Don't press too hard; insert the medicine gently to minimize the pain.
Step 6. Remove the needle at the same angle you inserted it
Cover the injection site with gauze and check regularly that the area still looks clean.
Tips
- If the patient is a child, distract him/her by singing a song, turning on the TV, or asking questions.
- Always instruct the patient to look away and relax the affected body part. This reduces the chance that the injection will hurt.
- Alternate injection sites to avoid bruising and irritation.
Warnings
- Contact a medical professional if bruising appears at the injection site that does not seem to go away, or if a fever or cough develops after the injection, and/or if you have any questions about how to give the injection.
Seek immediate help if the following symptoms appear immediately after an injection: shortness of breath, swelling of the mouth or face, and/or a rash or itching at the injection site