Pediatric Subcutaneous Injections

Subcutaneous injections can be given straight in at a 90 degree angle or at a 45 degree angle. Give the injection at a 90 degree angle if you can grasp 2 inches of skin between your thumb and first finger. If you can grasp only 1 inch of skin, give the injection at a 45 degree angle.

Demonstration Videos

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Guidelines, Specifications & User Manuals

Subcutaneous Injections Pediatrics – Children’s Minnesota Hospital

Helpful Information

Medicines you give just below the skin are called subcutaneous (SC) or SubQ injections. These injections (shots) are given into fatty areas of the body called injection sites.

The nurse will show you the following steps and give you time to practice before you give a subcutaneous injection to your child.

Wash your hands

Getting ready

  • Wash your hands with soap and water. Dry them well. Or, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. See “Do you know… Clean hands.”
  • Clean a workspace with an alcohol prep pad. Throw away the alcohol pad.
  • Gather the supplies and open them onto this workspace.
    The supplies you need are:

    • Syringe ( ________ ml size) that contain the medicine to be given
    •  30 gauge (½ inch) BD Eclipse safety needle
    • One 1ml Chloraprep® applicator
      Not for patients allergic to Chloraprep® or under 2 months of age. For these patients, use an alcohol prep pad
    • Sterile gauze pad
    • Sharps container
Twist cap off needle
  • Twist the needle (30 gauge) onto the syringe. Place the syringe onto your cleaned workspace.
  • Choose the injection site.
  • Open the Chloraprep® applicator and remove it from the package. Do not touch the sponge tip.
  • Pinch the wings of the applicator to release the solution. You should hear a pop.

Giving the medicine

  • Press the Chloraprep® on skin 3 times. Then, clean the area where the needle will be inserted using a back and forth motion for 30 seconds.
  • Let the skin dry for 30 seconds. Do not blot or wipe. Do not blow on the cleaned skin. Let air dry.
subcutaneous injection
subcutaneous injection
cover with gauze
  • Pick up the syringe and pull back on the needle’s safety cover toward the syringe. Pull the needle cap straight off the needle (do not twist). Set the cap aside.
  •  Pinch the cleaned skin and fat between your thumb and first finger. Be careful not to touch the injection site itself.
  • Hold the syringe between the thumb and first finger of the other hand. Insert the needle into the skin quickly at a 45 degree angle (as shown in the pictures) or 90 degree angle (straight up and down). The quicker you insert the needle, the less it hurts. Your nurse will teach you the correct angle to use for your child.
  • Take the needle and syringe out. Cover the site with the gauze.
  • Do not recap the needle. Instead, use the safety cover right away. Using the same hand that is holding the syringe, place your thumb on the finger pad area of the safety cover. Push the cover forward over the needle until you hear or feel it lock.

Disposing of the medicine and supplies

  • Place the needle and syringe into a patient sharps container.
    • When your sharps container is ½ to ¾ full, ensure the lid is on tightly, and dispose of it in the trash can. You can also use a coffee can to dispose of sharp objects. Before throwing the can away, you must cover the plastic lid with heavy-duty tape, such as duct tape. The tape will stop sharp objects from sticking through the plastic lid. Do not put sharp objects in glass or clear-plastic containers. Do not put sharp objects in any container that will be recycled or returned to a store.
      Keep containers with sharp objects out of the reach of young children.
  • Dispose of other supplies in the regular trash.
  • Clean your hands again after throwing away used supplies.

Injection sites

Subcutaneous injection sites are:

  • Back of the upper arms,
  • Thighs, and
  • Abdomen (except for the
    navel and the waistline).

Rotate the sites so the fat areas do not get irritated and scarred.

The nurse can help you locate the correct sites.

injection sites on arms
injections sitesHints for germ free injections
  • Wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. See “Do you know… Clean hands.”
  • Do not use any medicine that has changed its color or has flakes or specks in it.
  • If a sterile syringe part is touched, do not use it. Change the un-sterile part for a sterile part, or start over again.

Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns, please call 901-595-3300 and ask for your child’s primary clinic. If you are calling after hours or on the weekend, ask for the nursing shift leader. If you are outside the Memphis area, dial toll-free 1-866-2STJUDE (1-866-278-5833).

This document is not intended to take the place of the care and attention of your personal physician or other professional medical services. Our aim is to promote active participation in your care and treatment by providing information and education. Questions about individual health concerns or specific treatment options should be discussed with your physician.

St. Jude complies with health care-related federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

ATTENTION: If you speak another language, assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-866-278-5833 (TTY: 1-901-595-1040).

ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-866-278-5833 (TTY: 1-901-595-1040).

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