How to Make Saline

Saline solution is used for cleaning wounds, suctioning and other first aid procedures. It is easy and inexpensive to make your own saline solution at home. The following recipe for saline comes from the Ohio State University Medical Center.

Things You'll Need

• Hand soap
• 2 Level teaspoons table salt, plain not iodized
• 4 Cups tap water
• Sterile glass jar and lid
• Clean pan and lid
• Label for jar
• Ink pen

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash your hands with soap and warm water, rinse and dry.

• 2

  Combine salt and water in the pan.

• 3

  Cover the pan and heat until boiling.

• 4

  Boil for 15 minutes. Keep the lid on the pan, do not uncover.

• 5

  Remove from heat, and keep covered.

• 6

  Cool to room temperature, and keep covered.

• 7

  Uncover and pour into the sterile jar, and seal jar tightly with lid.

• 8

  Place the label on the jar. Use the pen to write the date on the label.

• 9

  Write the time and date on the label when you remove the lid from the jar.

• 10

  Throw the saline away 48 hours after it is opened, or throw an unused, unopened jar of saline away 30 days after it was made.