Preparing your work area

B12 solution

Sterile 25g /  27g needle and 1ml syringe

Gauze

Alcohol wipes / Pre injection swabs

Plasters (check for allergies prior to using)

Sharps disposal bin

Procedure:

Clean the injection are. Make sure the chosen injection site is uncovered and the person’s bare skin is exposed. Then, using a alcohol wipe clean the injection site.

Allow the site to air dry

Prepare your needle for drawing up B12 and draw up advised or usual dose. !ml of advised by prescriber or your professional competence.

Tap the syringe lightly with your finger to remove any air bubbles in the syringe.

Give a slight push on the syringe to dispel a tiny amount of vitamin B12 supplement to ensure the air is out of the syringe.

Administer the injection. Use the thumb and forefinger of your free hand to hold the skin of the injection site taunt. No matter where the chosen injection is located on the person’s body, the skin should be smooth and tight to make it easier to administer the supplement.

Let the person know you are going to inject the supplement. Then, inject the needle into their skin at a right angle. Hold the needle steady and push down the plunger slowly until the needle is fully inserted.

Once the needle is inserted, pull the plunger back a little to check that there is no blood in the syringe. If there is no blood, inject the full dose.

Try to inject into relaxed muscles. If the person appears nervous or tense, tell them to keep their weight on the leg or arm you are not injecting into. This will help them keep the muscles by the injection site relaxed.

Remove the needle and make sure you remove it at the same angle of insertion.

Apply instant and direct pressure using a gauze to the area you have injected and maintain this pressure for a minimum of 60 seconds. This will help prevent any bruising to the injection site and stop any bleeding.

Dispose of the needle in a sharps bin.