There are three main ways of injecting:
1. Intravenous
Through the vein Always inject in the direction of the heart. Never inject into a pulse. A pulse means an artery.
Risks: There is high risk of gangrene if you inject into a pulse/an artery. Recommended needle size: Baby brown for hands and feet. Brown and diabetic for arms. (Ask staff for more information)
2. Subcutaneous
Just under the skin The drug is slower to take effect when you use this way, so be patient. It is suitable for shortterm use only. Very important to rotate the injecting sites.
Risks: It can cause abscess and infections easily. May lead to lumps and bumps and long-term damage.
Recommended needle size: Diabetic.
3. Intramuscular
Into the muscle The drug is slower to take effect when you use this method. It is not a good choice for using a lot.
Risks: This can leave the muscle sore and stiff. Deep painful abscesses.
Recommended Needle Size: Green and Blue. Depends on your muscle mass. Ask staff.
What is the difference between a vein and artery?
Make sure you know the difference between a vein and artery! You always want to inject into a vein and never into an artery.
Veins have no pulse, and the blood they carry is a deep, dark red because it is low in oxygen. Arteries carry blood rich in oxygen from the lungs and heart to all the other parts of the body.
You’ll know if you hit an artery if:
- the plunger of your syringe is forced back by the pressure of the blood.
- when you register, the blood in your syringe is bright red, frothy, and ‘gushing.’ Blood in veins is dark red, slow-moving, and “lazy.”
- you feel an electric “burn” along your limb.
You can avoid it by:
- never injecting where you feel a pulse.
- injecting only into surface veins and not trying to hit those that lie deeper.
What to do if you hit an artery:
- untie your tourniquet and pull your needle out immediately.
- raise the limb above your head to stop the bleeding, if possible.
- apply firm pressure to the wound for at least 10 minutes.
- if bleeding continues, apply a bandage or cloth wrapped very tightly around the wound and seek medical attention immediately. The loss of blood from hitting an artery can be life-threatening if it’s not stopped.