Giffords Surgery: Self Administer - B12 Injections

Equipment required

• 3ml syringe
• red blunt needle
• blue needle
• B12 ampoule 
• cotton wool
• sharps box

Step-by-step guide

• Step 1. Wash your hands thoroughly
• Step 2. Attach red needle to syringe without touching the ends that will connect:
• Step 3. Shake or tap all the red fluid into the bottom part of the ampoule
• Step 4. Find the red spot on the ampoule and use a tissue to hold ampoule with that facing forward. Snap the top off backwards:
• Step 5. Discard the top of the ampoule in sharps box
• Step 6. Remove the cap to the red needle and insert into the ampoule and then pull the plunger up to draw up all the red fluid:
• Step 7. Discard the bottom of the empty ampoule in the sharps box
• Step 8. Hold the syringe with the red needle at the top and tap syringe so all the fluid is at the bottom
• Step 9. Push up the plunger to expel almost all the air
• Step 10. Remove the red needle and discard into the sharps box
• Step 11. Attach the blue needle, again without letting the tip of the syringe or the connecting part of the blue needle touch anything else
• Step 12. Hold upright, again with the blue needle at the top and gently push out any remaining air
• Step 13. The injection is now ready to be given
• Step 14. Expose the top of the arm or the outer part of the thigh where the injection will be given
• Step 15. Remove the needle cover
• Step 16. Gently push the needle into the skin until it won’t go any further
• Step 17. Push the plunger slowly down until the syringe is empty
• Step 18. Pull the whole thing out and discard straight into the sharps box
• Step 19. Cover or dab with cotton wool if necessary

If you are struggling to follow the above or have questions, please do get in touch with our nurses or watch our video demonstration HERE