Giffords Surgery: Self Administer - B12 Injections

Equipment required

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

Step-by-step guide

• Step 1. Wash your hands thoroughly
• Step 2. Attach green 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 green 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 green 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 green 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