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Self-Administer (SC) Injections

Administration of subcutaneous injections can be performed at home safely and accurately with proper care and technique.  This handout will guide you through the steps to give yourself an injection.  If you have any questions or concerns, please ask your health care provider. Clinic Phone Number: ________________


 

Supplies:

 

Needles and syringes
Alcohol swabs or gauze
Vial with the drug solution
Sharps® container (Health Facts for You #4587)
Band-Aids

 

Steps

 

1. Wash hands well with soap and water.  Assemble the supplies you need and place them on a clean, dry surface.

 

NOTE:  If your syringe is already drawn up, skip steps 2-9.

 

2. Screw a needle on the syringe hub.

 

3. Vial: Flip off the plastic top.  Use an alcohol swab and wipe that area thoroughly using outward circular motion for 10 seconds.

 

 

 

4. Remove the needle cover.  To draw air into the syringe pull the plunger back to the desired volume, __________ ml.  See diagram A

 

 

 

5.  Insert the needle straight into the vial through the rubber protective layer.  Inject air into the bottle by pushing down on the plunger.  See diagram B.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Using one hand, turn the vial with the syringe upside down.  Be sure the needle is in the bottle and below the fluid level.  Draw back the plunger to the correct mark, _________ ml.  See diagram C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Check for air bubbles in the syringe.  Bubbles can be removed by flicking the syringe with your finger.

 

8.  If the air bubble is at the top of the syringe, push gently on the plunger so the air goes back into the bottle.  Before removing the needle, be sure you have the proper volume in the syringe.

 

9. Remove the needle from the vial.  It is OK to put the cover on the needle for a moment.  Be very careful not to stick yourself.  Never place the syringe with uncovered needle on the surface you are working on.

 

10. Ampoule

  • Hold the ampoule upright, tap upper end lightly until all the medicine moves to the lower end of the ampoule.
  • Wrap alcohol wipe around the neck of the ampoule, snap the neck away from you.
  • Discard the top and alcohol wipe in the Sharps container.
  • Insert needle into medicine and keep needle below fluid level while withdrawing proper volume.
  • Check for bubbles by removing needle from ampule, turn syringe so needle is facing up (see diagram A) so the bubbles flow to the top of the syringe.
  • Pull back on the plunger slightly to pull any medicine in needle into syringe, then push gently on plunger until all air leaves the syringe.
  • Check for correct volume in the syringe.

Now, You Are Ready to Inject

 

Subcutaneous injections are given into fatty tissue.  These areas are shaded in below.

 

 

NOTE:   Be sure you rotate the sites as directed by your health care provider if giving repeated injections, and do not use more than 1 cc of solution with each injection.  The upper arms, lower abdomen, and thighs are the areas for self-injection.  Use a 25-gauge, ½ 5/8 or 1 inch needle, or what your health care provider has advised.

 

Arms:  Use the back of the arm to make sure you inject into the fatty tissue.  this can be hard to do on your own.

 

Thighs:  Use the middle and outer areas where you can pinch up tissue.

 

Abdomen:  Do not use the area within one-inch around your navel.  Avoid the belt-line area as rubbing may irritate the injection site.  Avoid surgical scars.

 

Buttocks:  Use any area where you can pinch up tissue.

 

11. Clean the skin with an alcohol swab, unless otherwise instructed by your health care provider.  Cover an area of 5 cm or 2 inches in diameter.  Let the area dry for 20-30 seconds.

 

12. Remove the needle cover.  Never touch the needle.

 

 

13. With one hand, grasp or pinch up the area around the injection site.

 

14. With the other hand, hold the syringe like a dart at a 90-degree angle.  If you are thin or giving the injection to a child, hold the syringe at a 45-degree angle.

 

15. Insert the needle into the pinched up skin with a quick firm motion.

 

16. Push slowly down on the plunger until the syringe is empty.

 

17. Withdraw the needle quickly, at the angle in which it was injected.  For heparin, put pressure for 2-3 minutes to prevent oozing or bruising.  Do not massage the injected area!

 

18. Dispose of the needle and syringe in a Sharps® container.  If haven't used this container, ask your health care provider.  Do not recap needle!

 

The Spanish version of this HFFY is #5956.



The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 10/19/2009

Copyright © 10/19/2009 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #4844

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