Can you give an IM injection in the deltoid?
The injection site is in the middle of the deltoid muscle, about 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) below the acromion process. To locate this area, lay three fingers across the deltoid muscle and below the acromion process. The injection site is generally three finger widths below, in the middle of the muscle.
What is the best size needle to use for an IM injection?
A 1” needle is sufficient in adults weighing 130–152 lbs (60–70 kg). A 1–1½” needle is recommended in women weighing 152–200 lbs (70–90 kg) and men weighing 152–260 lbs (70–118 kg). A 1½” needle is recommended in women weighing more than 200 lbs (90 kg) or men weighing more than 260 lbs (118 kg).
How do you give an IM injection in the deltoid?
Giving an IM injection into the deltoid site
- Find the knobbly top of the arm (acromion process)
- The top border of an inverted triangle is two finger widths down from the acromion process.
- Stretch the skin and then bunch up the muscle.
- Insert the needle at a right angle to the skin in the centre of the inverted triangle.
How deep is a deltoid injection?
Injection site Give in the central and thickest portion of the deltoid muscle – above the level of the armpit and approximately 2–3 fingerbreadths (~2″) below the acromion process.
How do you give a painless deltoid injection?
Use the muscle energy method by asking the patient to push their elbow against their hip as an isometric contraction for 7 seconds. Then quickly give the injection into the deltoid muscle (now relaxed).
How do I know what size IM injection needle to use?
Intramuscular (IM) injections The needle length and gauge are the same as when the deltoid muscle is used, i.e., 1″–1½” length, 22–25 gauge. You should choose needle length based on the weight of your adult patients, as follows: Adults weighing less than 130 lbs (60 kg): Use of a 1″ needle is recommended.
Why deltoid muscle is a good site for injection?
Most vaccines should be given via the intramuscular route into the deltoid or the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. This optimises the immunogenicity of the vaccine and minimises adverse reactions at the injection site. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of administering vaccines correctly.
What happens if an IM injection is too high?
“A vaccine is an immunologically sensitive substance, and if you were to receive an injection too high – in the wrong place – you could get pain, swelling and reduced range of motion in that area,” says Tom Shimabukuro, deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s immunization safety office.