How To Give A Blood Thinner (Anticoagulant) Shot

#anticoagulant #BloodThinner #Injection

MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: Please watch the entire video before giving an anti-coagulant shot. This video will teach you how to give yourself a shot of anti-coagulant medicine, also called a blood thinner. Blood thinners help prevent clots from forming inside your blood vessels. Before you begin you will need alcohol wipes, your pre-filled syringe of anti-coagulant medicine, and a sharps box. The main parts of the syringe are the barrel containing the medicine, the plunger, the needle cap, and the needle. Select your injection site at least two inches to the right or left of your belly button or on either of your thighs. A caregiver may also use these instructions to give you a shot on either side of your back, upper arms, or upper buttocks. Use a different injection site each day to avoid swelling or bruising and take your shot at the same time each day. Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions. Do not skip any doses. Do not inject more medicine than prescribed. Step one, before you begin wash your hands with soap and water and then dry them. Step two, clean the skin over the injection site by rubbing with an alcohol wipe in a circular motion. Step three, to open your syringe peel the foil cover off the back. Do not push the syringe through the foil cover because it could damage the syringe. Step four, hold the syringe sideways by the barrel then pull the needle cap straight off without bending the needle. There will be an air bubble in the medicine. Do not press the plunger to squirt the air bubble out of the barrel. Step five, with your free hand, pinch and hold an inch of skin at the injection site. Insert the needle at a 90 degree angle through your skin and into the fatty tissue beneath it. Step 6, slowly press the plunger to deliver all of the medicine, including the air bubble. Step 7, pull the needle straight out of your skin. Step eight, press down firmly on the plunger to activate the safety guard which covers the needle. Step 9, throw away the used syringe in your sharps box. Call your doctor if you notice increased bleeding, or bruising, rash, numbness, or tingling especially in your legs.

AND16019