Expiry Dates:
- Always check the expiry dates of each item including the drug. All products should have an expiry date on them.
- Make sure that the vial or ampoule contains the right drug in the right strength.
Sterility:
- During the whole preparation procedure, material should be kept sterile.
- Wash your hands before starting to prepare the injection.
- Disinfect the skin over the injection site.
- Make sure that there are no air bubbles left in the syringe.
- This is more important in intravenous injections.
Precautions:
- Once the protective cover of the needle is removed extra care is needed.
- Do not touch anything with the unprotected needle.
- When the injection has been given take care not to prick yourself or somebody else.
Disposal:
- Make sure that contaminated waste is disposed of safely.
Materials Needed:
- Syringe with the drug to be administered (without air), needle, liquid disinfectant, cotton wool, adhesive tape.
Technique:
- Always wash your hands thoroughly.
- Uncover the area to be injected (lateral upper quadrant major gluteal muscle, lateral side of upper leg, deltoid muscle).
- Disinfect the skin.
- Relax the muscle.
- Insert the needle swiftly at an angle of 90 degrees (watch depth!).
- Aspirate briefly, if blood appears, withdraw needle. Replace it with a new one.
- Inject slowly (less painful).
- Withdraw needle swiftly.
- Press sterile cotton wool onto the opening. Fix with adhesive tape.
- Clean up and dispose of waste safely, wash your hands.
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