Intramuscular injections (colloquially referred to as injections) are often given to young patients. The reasons can be very different: a strong fever or acute pain must be removed in minutes, not hours, you cannot give a pill when you vomit, etc. Of course, medical workers know best how to give injections to children. Injections at home with the hands of household members are not the best way to treat a child. Each medical manipulation, accompanied by damage to the skin (which, of course, includes intramuscular injections), must be performed by a he alth worker and subject to strict conditions and rules.
Before you give injections to children, remember - any form of self-treatment is fraught with complications and troubles, especially when it comes to self-administration of injections. Community-acquired injection can easily lead to severe purulent inflammation (abscess). Whatever the child's condition, always seek medical attention first. Only with the approval and permission of the doctor, mom or dad can do it themselvesinjections.
And yet, modern parents should know how to give an injection intramuscularly to a child.
Preparation: clean and calm
First of all, you should remember about sterility, perfect cleanliness. Also, the success of manipulation largely depends on the emotional background and complete calmness. Never do the syringe preparation procedure in front of a child!
Place the syringe, ampoule, cotton wool and a bottle of alcohol on a clean table, after laying a new napkin (plain paper will do). Wash your hands thoroughly, dry them (preferably just in the air or with a new clean towel), even at home it is better to use medical gloves, since children should be given injections in the strictest cleanliness. Open the package with the syringe, put on the needle (without removing the protective case from it), put the syringe in the package and put it back on the table. The ampoule must be carefully filed and broken, after which, removing the case from the needle, draw the medicine into the syringe. Place the syringe with the needle vertically upwards and remove all the air with gentle gentle pressure on the plunger. Don't forget to prepare a cotton swab with alcohol.
Distract your child with play
Many experienced parents will say: "We give injections to children during the game." Indeed, home injections can be turned into a “hospital for animals” by inviting the baby to inject his own toys (of course, not with a real needle). Distract the baby, come up with a reward for his patience. BUTthe main thing is not to scare children with injections, this sets them up in advance for fear and crying.
Don't panic! Making an injection
The buttock should be mentally divided into four equal squares: the injection should be done in the upper outer. This is extremely important, because if the needle enters the internal areas, the sciatic nerve can be easily damaged. Wipe the intended place several times well with alcohol. Insert the needle in one quick and sure motion. Slow piercing is extremely painful. Then slowly, slowly inject the medicine. Usually, towards the end of the injection, the pain intensifies, as the medicine stretches the muscles. Unfortunately, many medications (especially antibiotics) are extremely painful on their own. At the end, press the injection site with alcoholized cotton and quickly remove the needle. Leave the cotton on for 1-2 minutes. You can gently massage the injection site or apply a heating pad (previously putting on underwear). If severe swelling and redness appear at the injection site, and the child complains of severe constant pain, you should consult a doctor.
If in doubt about how to give injections to children correctly and safely, seek help from medical professionals.
