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How to Do an Allergy Shot With an Insulin Syringe

An allergy shot is an injection of epinephrine, more commonly know as adrenaline. The injection can be given in the muscle or under the skin. An insulin syringe is usually composed of a 27- to 30-gauge needle fixed to a 1-ml syringe and is perfect for injection of epinephrine under the skin. This is called a subcutaneous injection.

Things You'll Need

  • Insulin syringe
  • Ampule of 1 to 1000 epinephrine
  • 2 alcohol pads
  • Two 2-in. by 2-in. gauze pads
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Instructions

    • 1

      Clean around the neck of the glass ampule with an alcohol pad and let it dry. Wrap the neck in a gauze pad to prevent injury, then break the head off of the ampule and turn it upside down. The surface tension of the liquid will prevent it from spilling. Insert the needle into the ampule and draw out 0.3 ml of epinephrine. Make absolutely sure the strength of the epinephrine is 1 to 1000. This amount of liquid will give you 0.3 mg of epinephrine, the normal adult dose for an allergic reaction.

    • 2

      Clean an area about 2 in. in diameter on the back of the upper arm about halfway between the shoulder and the elbow with the alcohol pad. Let the alcohol dry completely. After cleaning the injection site, do not touch it as this could lead to contamination and infection.

    • 3

      Pull the skin off the muscle a few centimeters with your index finger and thumb, making a triangle shape. This is to prevent injection into the muscle tissue. Hold the needle at a 45-degree angle to the skin with the bevel up. Quickly insert the needle into the triangle of skin up to the hub of the needle. Pull back on the plunger of the syringe looking for any blood being pulled back into the syringe. If blood is present, remove the needle, discard it and repeat the process from step one. Aspiration of blood into the needle indicates placement into a vein. An intravenous injection of 1 to 1000 epinephrine can be deadly.

    • 4

      Inject the epinephrine quickly. The injection should take about one second. Remove the needle and dispose of it in an approved sharps container. Blot any blood away from the injection site with a gauze pad.

    • 5

      Monitor the individual for signs of improvement. The individual may experience an increased heart rate, agitation and restlessness. This is normal and actually tells you that the epinephrine is working correctly.

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