How to draw up medications

Canuck Place helps families and gives resources on how to care for their child with serious illness. Below, learn how to draw up medications.

Prepare the syringe: Vial

  1. Fill Needle Vial
  2. Attach the needle to the syringe. For your safety, leave the cover on the needle while you do this.
  3. Take the cap off the medication vial, if there is one.
  4. Wipe the top of the vial with the alcohol swab
  5. With the needle cover still on the needle, pull back on the plunger and pull air into the syringe. The amount of air pulled into the syringe should be the same as the dose of medication the doctor has prescribed.
  6. Carefully pull the needle cover straight off the needle.
  7. Push the plunger of the syringe down and inject air into the vial.
  8. Keeping the needle in the vial, turn the vial upside down and make sure the needle is in the liquid medication.
  9. Slowly pull back on the plunger and let the medicine enter the syringe, until you have withdrawn the prescribed amount of medication.
  10. Ensure the dose is correct before removing it from the vial. Also check that there are no bubbles in the syringe.
  11. Recap the needle and remove it from the syringe.
  12. Place needles in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof sharps
  13. Container provided by their local pharmacy.

Prepare the Syringe: Ampoule

  1. Filter Needle
  2. Attach the filtered needle to the syringe. For your safety, leave the cover on the needle while you do this.
  3. Flick the top of the ampoule to get any medication trapped in the top back into the bottom.
  4. Hold the ampoule with the white dot facing away and pull back on the top of the ampoule towards yourself in a snapping motion.
  5. Draw the prescribed amount of medication into the syringe.
  6. Ensure the dose is correct before removing the syringe from the ampoule. Also check that there are no bubbles in the syringe.
  7. Recap the needle and remove it from the syringe.
  8. Place needles in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof sharps container provided by their local pharmacy.
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