How to Give Yourself a Intramuscular (IM) Injection？

What is an Intramuscular Injection?

An intramuscular injection, delivers medication deep into the muscle tissue.  This allows the medication to be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Intramuscular shots are given at a 90° angle, in other words, the needle is going straight through the skin into the muscle.

Needles for IM injections can be 22-23 Gauge, 1-1.5 inches in length, adjusted for thickness of site.

Step 1 Setting Up for the Injection

• Clean your work area and assemble supplies:

➝   Medication in a vial

➝   Disposable syringe and two needles—one 18 G needle

      and one injection needle (22 -23 G; 1-1.5 inch)

➝   Alcohol swabs, two (one for vial, one for skin)

➝   Puncture proof needle/sharps disposal container

• Check the expiration date on the medication vial. Do not use a medication with visible particles, medication that is discolored, or is expired.
• Wash your hands. Hand washing is one of the most important things you can do to prevent infection.

Step 2 Preparing the Injection Dose

• Take the cap off the vial. Clean the rubber stopper with one alcohol swab, and then allow it to air dry.
• Check the package containing the syringe. If the package has been opened or damaged, do not use the syringe.
• Pull the 18 G needle cover straight off the syringe. Then, pull back the plunger and draw air into the syringe. The amount of air drawn into the syringe should be the same amount (mL or cc) as the dose of medication that your doctor prescribed.

Keep the vial on your flat working surface and insert the needle straight down through the center of the rubber stopper into the bottle.

• Push the plunger of the syringe down and push the air from the syringe into the vial.
• Keeping the needle in the vial, turn the vial upside down.
• Position the needle so the liquid is covering the tip of the needle.
• Keeping the vial upside down, slowly pull back on the plunger to fill the syringe with the medication to the number (mL or cc) that matches the dose your doctor ordered.
• Keeping the needle in the vial, check for air bubbles in the syringe. If there are air bubbles, gently tap the syringe with your fingers until the air bubbles rise to the top of the syringe. Then slowly push the plunger up to force the air bubbles out of the syringe without removing the needle from the bottle.
• After air bubbles are gone, pull the plunger back to the number (mL or cc) marking on the syringe that matches your dose.
• Pull the syringe with needle out of the bottle, remove the 18 G needle (discarding it into the sharps container, without recapping it), and place a new IM injection needle securely on the syringe. Remove the protective cap from the injecting needle.
• Check to make sure that you have the correct dose in the syringe. It is VERY important that you use the exact dose prescribed by your doctor.

Step 3 Selecting and Preparing the Injection Site

Vastus lateralis muscle in the thigh

The upper thigh is a good site if you are injecting yourself.

• Look at the top of your thigh, and imagine dividing it into a three by three grid.
• The injection will go into the outer middle third.

Gluteus Maximus muscle in the buttocks

To find the correct location for injecting into the Gluteus maximus muscle:

To find the appropriate location:

Expose the buttocks and imagine dividing each buttock into four parts.

• Aim the injection into the upper, outer quarter of the buttock towards the hip bone

(Approximately at the top of where a pants pocket would be.)

Step 4 Give the Injection

• Clean the injection site skin with a new alcohol swab; let the skin air dry.
• Hold the skin around the injection site by pinch-ing up a section of tissue about an inch wide.

(The portion of skin between your fingers will be the injection site.)

• Insert the IM needle into the muscle at a 90 degree angle with one quick and firm motion.
• After inserting the needle into the muscle, lift your hand away from where it is holding the skin.

• Gently pull back on the plunger of the syringe to check for blood.

➝   If you see blood in the syringe, do not inject the medicine, and remove the needle immediately. Replace the IM needle and try again at a different site.

➝   If you do not see any blood in the syringe, you can complete the injection by pushing the medicine slowly into the muscle.

• You may feel some burning or pressure as the medication enters the muscle.
• After the medication has been injected, pull back on the syringe to remove the needle from your skin. Dispose of the syringe and needle properly, using a sharps container.
• Gently press an alcohol swab on the injection site. Hold pressure on the site until there is no bleeding. You can use a band aid if needed.

Tips for Reducing Injection Pain

➝   Never reuse needles

➝   Use separate drawing up and injecting needles

➝   Let the skin dry fully from the alcohol wipe before beginning the injection

➝   Keep the muscles in the injection area warm and relaxed

➝   Inject medicine that is at room temperature

➝   Break through the skin quickly with the needle

➝   Insert the needle straight into the skin, and pull it straight out again without changing direction or wiggling the syringe.

Practice with Medarchitect IM Injection Pad

Practice with our wearable design IM injection pad, the black elasticity long strap can be worn on the thigh and arm, increase the realism of the operation.