Prominent Venous Tips

• Make sure the limb is below the level of the heart
• Milking a vein from proximal to distal can make it appear more prominent
• Ask the patient to repeatedly make a fist with their hand
• Apply a gauze soaked in lukewarm water for two to three minutes
• Gently wipe the skin with an alcohol swab.

Ultrasound and handheld infrared devices can also be very useful to locate veins, where available.