How to inject into a vein

Video: How to Find a Vein When Starting Ivs or Drawing Blood Tips in the Arm

Content

Steps
Part 1 of 2: Finding a Vein
Part 2 of 2: Injection into a vein and injection of medication
Warnings
Preparing for injection
What do you need

Although intravenous injection is a rather complicated procedure, there are certain simple tricks that can be done in the right way. Do not attempt an IV injection without prior training. If you are a healthcare professional and are learning how to inject correctly, or need to inject medication into your vein, start by preparing the syringe. Then locate the vein and slowly inject the drug. Always use sterile equipment, inject medication with the blood stream, and watch for possible complications after injection.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Finding a Vein

1 Give the patient 2-3 glasses of water to drink. When there is enough fluid in the body, blood flows more easily through the veins, making them thicker and more visible. With dehydration, the vein is more difficult to find. If you suspect the patient is dehydrated, ask them to drink 2-3 glasses of water before giving the injection.
- Decaffeinated juice, tea, or decaffeinated coffee can also work in place of water.
- If the patient is severely dehydrated, an intravenous fluid may be needed. If the patient is unable to drink, try to find a vein.
2 Look for a vein in your arm on the inside of your elbow. This is where the injection is safest and the vein is usually easy to find. Ask the patient which arm to inject into. Then look for a vein in the corresponding arm. If you can't find the vein right away, you may need to take extra steps to make it protrude under the skin.
- For regular vein injections, alternate between the right and left arms to prevent damage to the veins.
- Be especially careful when injecting into the palm or foot. Here the veins are often easier to find, but they are more delicate and easily damaged. In addition, injection into the palm or foot can be quite painful. If the patient has diabetes, do not inject into the foot as it is too risky.
A warning: never inject into the neck, head, groin or wrist! The main arteries are located in the neck and groin, which increases the risk of overdose, loss of a limb, and even death from the injection.
3 Wrap a tourniquet around your arm to help the vein protrude. Wrap your arm with an elastic band 5-10 centimeters above the injection site. Tie the tourniquet in a loose knot or simply secure the ends with a bandage. If you are going to inject into the inside of your elbow, apply the tourniquet above the biceps, not over the biceps itself.
- The tourniquet should be easily removable. Never use a belt or non-elastic fabric, as this will distort the shape of the veins.
- If you are having trouble finding a vein, try a tourniquet around your shoulder to keep the blood in your arm.
4 Ask the patient to clench and unclench his hand several times. You can also give him a stress ball and ask him to squeeze several times. After about 30 to 60 seconds, check to see if the vein has protruded.
5 Feel the vein with your fingers. After you find the vein, place one finger on it. Lightly massage the vein with your finger from top to bottom for 20-30 seconds. As a result, the vein will expand and be easier to see.
- Don't press too hard! Massage the vein lightly with your finger.
6 Apply a warm compress to the affected area if the veins are still not visible. The heat expands the veins, making them easier to find. If you need to warm up the injection site, hold the damp towel in the microwave for 15-30 seconds and then apply it to the vein. You can also hold the injection site directly in warm water.
- Other ways to warm up your entire body are to drink something warm, such as tea or coffee, or take a warm bath.
- Never give an injection to a patient while he is in the bath! This can create a risk that the patient will drown due to side effects.
7 Clean the injection site with rubbing alcohol after you find a suitable vein. Before giving an injection, you need to cleanse the skin at the injection site. When you find a suitable vein, wipe the injection site with an isopropyl alcohol-soaked injection wipe.
- If you do not have a special injection wipe, moisten a sterile cotton ball with isopropyl alcohol and wipe it over your skin.

Part 2 of 2: Injection into a vein and injection of medication

1 Insert the needle into a vein in your arm at a 45-degree angle. Take the prepared sterile syringe and carefully insert the tip of the needle into the vein where you want to inject. Insert the needle so that the medicine is in the direction of the bloodstream. Since the veins carry blood to the heart, inject the medicine towards it. In this case, the syringe should be directed upward.
- If you have any doubts or questions about the correct placement of the needle, consult a qualified doctor or nurse before injecting the medicine into a vein.
A warning: Only proceed with the injection after you have clearly identified the appropriate vein. Injecting a medication intended for intravenous injection into another part of the body can be dangerous and even fatal.
2 Pull back the plunger of the syringe to make sure the needle is in the vein. Gently pull the plunger back slightly and check to see if blood has entered the syringe. If no blood has entered the syringe, you have not entered a vein, in which case you need to remove the needle and try again. If dark red blood has entered the syringe, you have successfully entered the vein and can continue on.
- If blood enters the syringe under noticeable pressure, is bright red, and foams, then you have inserted a needle into an artery. Draw out the needle immediately and apply pressure to the injection site for at least 5 minutes to stop bleeding. Be especially careful if you are trapped in the brachial artery on the inner side of the elbow, as the blood leaking from it can interfere with the normal functioning of the hand.Try again with a new needle after stopping the bleeding.
3 Remove the tourniquet before administering the medicine. If you applied a tourniquet before inserting the needle, remove it. Injection with a tourniquet left in place can damage the vein.
- If the patient clenched his hand into a fist, ask him to stop.
4 Slowly push the plunger down to inject the medication into the vein. It is necessary to inject the drug slowly to avoid too high pressure on the vein. Slowly lower the plunger under constant pressure until all the medicine has been injected.
5 Remove the needle slowly and push down on the injection site. After giving the medication, slowly withdraw the needle and immediately apply pressure to the injection site. Press a piece of bandage or cotton ball against your skin for 30-60 seconds to stop bleeding.
- Seek emergency medical attention if bleeding is severe or persistent.
6 Bandage the injection site. Cover the injection site with a fresh, sterile bandage and secure it in place with an adhesive tape or an adhesive bandage. This will help maintain pressure on the injection site after you remove your finger from the bandage or cotton wool.
- The injection can be considered complete after you bandage the injection site.
7 Seek medical attention for emergencies. After the injection, it is necessary to monitor whether some complications arise. Problems can appear both immediately after the injection and on the following days. Get immediate medical attention if:
- You are trapped in an artery and cannot stop the bleeding.
- The injection site is hot, red, or swollen.
- After an injection in the leg, it hurts, swells, or has lost mobility.
- An abscess formed at the injection site.
- After being injected into an arm or leg, she turned white and cold.
- You accidentally pricked yourself with a used needle.

Warnings

If you need to inject a medication, ask a friend or family member for help.
Do not inject the medication to yourself or anyone else unless you are properly trained. Intravenous injections are more risky than subcutaneous and intramuscular injections.
Do not administer any medications without a doctor's prescription.

Preparing for injection

Wash your hands. Before handling the medicine and syringe, wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. Lather your palms and fingers for 20 seconds. Then, rinse off the soap and dry your hands dry with a clean plain or paper towel.
- To further reduce the risk of infection or contamination, disposable sterile medical gloves can be worn. Gloves are not always necessary, although their use may be prescribed by standard procedures.
  Advice: If you need to keep track of the time when washing your hands, slowly count to 20.
Insert the syringe needle into the medicine bottle and pull back the plunger. Take a clean, unused syringe and insert the needle into the drug vial. Pull back the plunger and draw the required dose into the syringe. Take exactly the amount of medicine prescribed by your doctor. Do not exceed the dose or take less than prescribed. Also follow any additional instructions from your doctor regarding the correct preparation of the medication.
- Be sure to test the medicine to make sure it is safe to use. The medicine should be free of debris and have a uniform color, the vial with it should not leak or have any damage.
Position the syringe with the needle up and squeeze out the excess air. After you draw the required amount of medicine into the syringe, turn it upside down with the needle. Tap the side of the syringe lightly so that the air bubbles rise upward. Then press the plunger so that excess air is squeezed out of the syringe.
- Make sure there is no air trapped in the syringe before giving the injection.
Place the syringe on a flat, clean surface.After expelling the air, place a sterile cap over the tip of the needle and place the syringe on the sterile surface until you need it. Remember that the needle must not come into contact with a non-sterile surface.
- If you drop the syringe or accidentally touch the needle, take a sterile syringe and prepare a new injection.