Before you go out and buy your next pair of syringes, you should have a clear understanding of what you need from your syringes and needles. The following guide will explain some of the most important points when buying these items, and should prove useful when you’re in the market. Remember to always follow the guidelines set forth by your doctor and prescriber when using these items.
Intramuscular injections
There are some important precautions to keep in mind when performing intramuscular injections with syringes needles kit. Ideally, the injection should be given with the patient lying on their side. While the other hand holds the syringe, the patient’s thumb should be pointed toward the groin, while the fingertips should be angled toward the head. The first finger should be separated from the other three fingers, so that it can feel the edge of the bone. If this is your first injection, the syringe and needle should be placed in the middle of the V, as shown on the illustration. Generally, adults and children older than seven months old can receive this procedure.
Safety needles
There are several types of syringes, but one type is known as a safety syringe. These syringes contain built-in safety features to prevent needlestick injuries. They can either be detachable or permanently attached to the syringe. While there are numerous advantages to safety syringes, some are better than others for specific medical purposes.
Needle gauge
When selecting a syringe and needle, you should consider three important factors: the length and gauge. The gauge measures the needle’s diameter. The needle’s length describes how far it can penetrate the skin. The gauge size also indicates how deep the needle can go, ranging from intradermal to subcutaneous injections. The finer the needle gauge, the less pain it will cause the patient.
Length
While the length of syringes and needle size do not necessarily affect insulin doses, some research suggests that shorter needles may cause insulin leakage, leading to inappropriate dose adjustments and unpredictable blood glucose levels. However, studies have not confirmed this correlation. In fact, they have shown that longer needles cause no more leakage than shorter ones, and skin sensitivity to injection pain was no different. Similarly, a study by Hirsch et al. demonstrated that patients suffering from diabetes experienced less pain with needles that were 8 mm long compared to 4-mm.
Conclusion:
When selecting a syringe for administering a medication, you should consider the size and shape of the plunger. Some syringes have a locking mechanism to prevent needle detachment, but others are unreliable, especially when used for materials with high hazard potential. When selecting a syringe, always read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
