How to Give an Injection

Health problems may require you to give or receive shots on a daily basis, without the assistance of a health professional. It's important to know how to correctly administer an injection. A health professional will teach you how to safely and accurately prepare and give an injection. There are steps to remember as you go through the process.

Things You'll Need

  • Medicine
  • Vials
  • Sterile saline or sterile water, if necessary
  • Needle, syringe and plunger unit
  • Alcohol swabs
  • Needle disposal container
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Instructions

  1. Injection Preparation

    • 1

      Wash your hands thoroughly using soap, hot water and lots of friction created by rubbing the hands and fingers together. Wipe your hands on a clean towel until they are completely dry. You may also wear rubber gloves.

    • 2

      Gather the needed supplies.

    • 3

      Dilute the medicine in a vial according to your doctor's directions, if necessary. Mix the medicine's powder in a vial with the amount of prescribed sterile saline or sterile water. Some medicines come in a ready-to-use vial.

    • 4

      Wipe the top of the vial with an alcohol swab.

    • 5

      Uncover the needle and push it carefully through the rubber on the top of the vial.

    • 6

      Pull back the plunger until the syringe fills with the prescribed amount of medicine. You are ready to give an injection.

    Injection Details

    • 7

      Let your doctor determine the location on the body to inject the medicine.

    • 8

      Clean the shot area with an alcohol swab and allow the area to dry completely.

    • 9

      Pinch the skin in the injection area with one hand. Hold the syringe in the other hand in the same way you would hold a pencil, but don't touch the plunger.

    • 10

      Insert the needle into the pinched skin at a 90-degree angle, and then release the pinched skin.

    • 11

      Dispense the medicine into the body by pushing the plunger in all the way. Take the needle out of the injection sight on the same 90-degree angle.

    • 12

      Stop bleeding at the injection site by applying pressure with gauze or a cotton ball. Don't rub the area.

    • 13

      Replace the cover over the needle after you give an injection, and place the needle and syringe unit in a safe container. Use a container that the needle can't penetrate.

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