Injecting medication into a vein (vein) can be difficult, but there are some easy ways that can help you get it right. Never try to give an injection, unless you have been trained to do so. If you are a medical professional learning how to give an injection or you need to inject medicine yourself, start by preparing a syringe. Next, find the vein and inject slowly. Be sure to use sterile equipment, then inject the drug into the bloodstream, and watch for complications after the injection is given.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing for Injections
Step 1. Wash your hands
Wash your hands with soap and warm water before handling medication or needles. Rub the soap between your hands and fingers for about 20 seconds. Next, use a clean tissue or towel to dry your hands after you rinse them.
- To minimize the risk of infection and contamination, it is recommended that you wear sterile, disposable medical gloves. Gloves are not mandatory, but may be required as part of a health care procedure.
- If you need an appropriate amount of time to wash your hands, try singing the happy birthday song twice. This takes approximately 20 seconds.
Step 2. Insert the needle into the medication and pull the piston (plunger) back
Prepare a clean, unused needle, then insert the tip into the medicine bottle. Aspirate the medicine according to the prescribed dose into the tube by pulling on the piston. Only take the medicine at the dose prescribed by the doctor. Do not reduce or increase the dose. Follow your doctor's instructions on how to properly prepare your medication.
Check the medicine to make sure it is safe to use. The medicine should not be soiled and discolored, and the bottle should not leak or be damaged
Step 3. Hold the syringe with the needle pointed up, then press the piston to release air
After the required medication is inserted into the syringe, turn the syringe so that the needle is up. Next, tap the side of the tube carefully to direct the air bubbles to the surface of the tube. Press the piston just enough to remove air from the syringe.
Always blow air out of the tube before you inject the medicine that is in it
Step 4. Place the syringe on a clean and flat surface
Once the air in the tube has been removed, protect the needle by attaching a sterile cap, then place the syringe on a sterile surface until it is ready for use. Do not allow the syringe to touch an unsterile surface.
If the needle is dropped or accidentally touched by hand, get a new syringe
Part 2 of 3: Finding the Veins
Step 1. Ask the person to be injected to drink 2-3 glasses of water
If the body has sufficient fluids, the blood will be pumped through the veins more easily. This makes the vein enlarged and easy to see. Finding a vein in a dehydrated person will be more difficult. If you suspect the patient is dehydrated, ask him to drink 2-3 glasses of water before you inject him.
- You can also give decaffeinated tea, juice, or coffee to meet the patient's fluid needs.
- If the patient is severely dehydrated, you may need to give intravenous fluids. Continue to look for a vein if the patient is unable to drink fluids.
Step 2. Look for the vein in the arm near the inside of the elbow
The vein in the arm area is the safest for injection and is usually easier to find. Ask the patient which part of the arm to be injected. After that, examine the arm to see if the veins are visible. If it's not visible, maybe you should bring it up to the surface.
- If injections are given regularly (frequently), you should inject the patient's arm alternately (alternating) to prevent the vein from bursting.
- Be careful when injecting hands and feet. Veins in this area are usually easy to find, but tend to be fragile and break easily. Injections in this area are also painful. If the patient has diabetes, do not inject his feet because it is too risky.
- Never inject neck, head, groin and wrists! There are major arteries in the neck and groin, which can increase the risk of overdose, limb deformity, or even death from the injection.
Step 3. Wrap a tourniquet (a device to press a part of the body to reveal blood vessels) on the arm so that the veins come to the surface
Wrap an elastic tourniquet about 5-10 cm above the injection site. Use a loose single (overhand) knot or simply tuck the end of the tourniquet into the string to secure it. If the injection is to be given on the inside of the elbow, be sure to place the tourniquet over the biceps mound, not the biceps.
- The tourniquet should be easily removed. Do not use a belt or stiff cloth as this can damage the shape of the vein.
- If the veins remain invisible, try tying a tourniquet around the shoulder to help force the blood to flow toward the arm.
Step 4. Ask the patient to open and close the palm
You can also give a stress ball (a ball to relieve stress), and ask the patient to press and release it several times. Notice if the veins become visible after 30-60 seconds later.
Step 5. Use your finger to palpate the vein
Once the vein is found, place one finger on it. Use the finger to gently press up and down in a bouncing motion for about 20-30 seconds. This makes the vein enlarged and easy to see.
Don't press it too hard! Feel the vein using gentle pressure
Step 6. Apply a warm compress to the injection area if the vein has not yet appeared
Warm objects will make the vein dilate and enlarge so that it becomes easier to find. If you want to warm the injection site, place a wet towel in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, then place this warm towel over the vein. You can also soak the area to be injected in warm water.
- Some options to warm the whole body include drinking a warm drink (coffee or tea), or taking a warm bath.
- Never inject people who are in the tub! Depending on the effect of the injection, this could cause him to drown.
Step 7. Clean the injection area with rubbing alcohol if you have found a viable vein
Make sure the skin in the injection area is clean before you inject it. Once a suitable vein is found, wipe the area with isopropyl alcohol.
If you haven't prepared a cleaning pad, soak a sterile cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol and use it to clean the injection site
Part 3 of 3: Inserting the Needle and Injecting Medicine
Step 1. Insert the syringe into the vein at a 45-degree angle to the arm
Take the syringe that you placed in a sterile place, then carefully insert the tip into the vein. Insert the needle so that the medicine is injected in the same direction as the blood flow. Because veins carry blood toward the heart, inject the medicine in a position that allows blood to flow toward the heart. Be sure to tilt the syringe up when you do this.
- If you are in doubt or do not know how to place the needle correctly, ask a doctor or experienced nurse before injecting a patient's vein.
- Only start the injection if the vein is really visible. Injecting drugs that aim to deliver something intravenously to other parts of the body can be dangerous and can be fatal.
Step 2. Pull the piston slightly to make sure the syringe is completely in the vein
Gently pull the piston slightly and see if any blood is sucked in the syringe as you do this. If there is no blood, the syringe is not in the vein, and you will need to remove the needle and try again. If there is dark red blood, the needle has penetrated the vein and you can continue the process.
If the blood that comes out has strong pressure, is bright red and foamy, it means that the needle has penetrated the artery. Remove the needle immediately, and stop the bleeding by pressing on the injection site for at least 5 minutes. Be careful if you hit the brachial artery on the inside of the elbow because excessive bleeding outside the vein can impair hand function. Try using a new needle again after the bleeding has stopped
Step 3. Remove the tourniquet before you administer the injection
If you used a tourniquet before giving the injection, remove the tourniquet first. Injecting the needle while the tourniquet is still in place can rupture the vein.
If the patient makes a fist, ask him to open his palm
Step 4. Gently press the piston to introduce the drug into the vein
It is very important to inject the drug slowly so that there is no excessive pressure on the vein. Push the piston using slow, steady pressure until all the medicine is used up.
Step 5. Gently remove the needle and continue to apply pressure to the injection site
After the drug is injected, gently remove the needle and immediately apply pressure to the injection site. Apply gauze or cotton to the injection site for about 30-60 seconds to stop the bleeding.
If the bleeding is excessive and cannot stop, call emergency services immediately
Step 6. Apply the bandage on the injection site
Cover the injection site area with sterile gauze, then secure the gauze by wrapping a tape or adhesive bandage. This helps apply pressure to the injection site after you remove your finger from the gauze or cotton swab.
The process is complete once you have bandaged the injection site
Step 7. Get medical help in case of an emergency
There are a number of complications to watch out for after you have the injection. The problem can appear right after the injection, or a few days afterward. Get medical help right away if:
- The needle pierced the artery and the bleeding couldn't stop.
- The injection site is hot, red, and swollen.
- You inject a leg, and it hurts, swells, and is unusable.
- Pus appears in the injection site.
- The arm or leg that was injected turns white and cold.
- You accidentally inject yourself with a needle that someone else has used.
Warning
- Seek help if you inject drugs. Talk to a family member or friend for support.
- Never inject medicine into yourself or anyone else, unless you have been trained to do so. Injections of drugs into a vein carry a higher risk than subcutaneous (under the skin) and intramuscular (injections into the muscle) injections.
- Do not inject the drug, except as directed by a doctor.
