What to do if you step on a hypodermic needle?

Table of Contents:

1. What to do if you step on a hypodermic needle?
2. What tests are done after a needlestick?
3. How long after a needlestick should you get tested?
4. What happens if you get pricked by a used needle?
5. What diseases can you get from a used needle?
6. What are the chances of getting a disease from a needlestick?
7. Can a needle go through a shoe?
8. Can you reuse your own needle?
9. Why can't you use the same needle twice?
10. Can you sterilize a used needle?
11. What happens if you use the same needle as someone else?
12. How do you know if you hit an artery instead of a vein?
13. What are the signs of an accidental arterial puncture?
14. What happens if you hit a vein hard?
15. How do you know if you blew a vein?
16. How long does it take for a vein to heal?
17. How do you know if you hit a nerve while injecting?
18. Can you get nerve damage from an injection?
19. What are the side effects of intramuscular injections?
20. What happens if you inject into the sciatic nerve?
21. How long does a damaged sciatic nerve take to heal?
22. Why are intramuscular injections so painful?
23. How can I ease the pain of IM injection?

What to do if you step on a hypodermic needle?

What should I do if I injure myself with a used needle?

1. encourage the wound to bleed, ideally by holding it under running water.
2. wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap.
3. do not scrub the wound while you're washing it.
4. do not suck the wound.
5. dry the wound and cover it with a waterproof plaster or dressing.

What tests are done after a needlestick?

Laboratory studies in exposed individuals/health care worker include the following: Hepatitis B surface antibody. HIV testing at time of incident and again at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Hepatitis C antibody at time of incident and again at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.

How long after a needlestick should you get tested?

You should be tested for HCV antibody and liver enzyme levels (alanine amino- transferase or ALT) as soon as possible after the exposure (baseline) and at 4-6 months after the exposure. To check for infection earlier, you can be tested for the virus (HCV RNA) 4-6 weeks after the exposure.

What happens if you get pricked by a used needle?

Needle stick injuries can also happen at home or in the community if needles are not discarded properly. Used needles may have blood or body fluids that carry HIV, the hepatitis B virus (HBV), or the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus can spread to a person who gets pricked by a needle used on an infected person.

What diseases can you get from a used needle?

Some people, such as health care workers are at increased risk of needlestick injury, which occurs when the skin is accidentally punctured by a used needle. Blood-borne diseases that could be transmitted by such an injury include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV).

What are the chances of getting a disease from a needlestick?

Your chances of catching a disease from a single needle stick are usually very low. About 1 out of 300 health care workers accidentally stuck with a needle from someone with HIV get infected. But for hepatitis B, the odds can be as high as nearly 1 in 3 if the worker hasn't been vaccinated for it.

Can a needle go through a shoe?

There's no reason for PEP or worrying about your kids and yes it would be difficult for a needle to go through your tennis shoe and then stick your foot and even if it did the blood would be stripped off as it went through your shoe.

Can you reuse your own needle?

Reusing a needle or syringe puts patients in danger of contracting Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, and possibly HIV. When it is discovered that reuse of a needle or syringe has occurred, all patients who may have been affected should be notified and informed to get tested.

Why can't you use the same needle twice?

Originally Answered: Can you use the same needle twice on yourself? Yes you can use it more than once but each time you do it's getting duller and it's more likely to introduce bacteria into your body and eventually if you keep using it, it could get weak enough to break off when you try to pull it out.

Can you sterilize a used needle?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , moist heat is the most effective way to sterilize needles. That's because of its ability to kill microorganisms. In a medical setting, autoclave machines may be used to sterilize needles or other medical equipment by pressurizing saturated steam.

What happens if you use the same needle as someone else?

Sharing a needle or syringe for any use, including injecting drugs under the skin (skin popping), steroids, hormones or silicone, can put you at risk of HIV and other infections found in the blood like hepatitis C. You can get HIV from injecting into a vein (intravenous injecting).

How do you know if you hit an artery instead of a vein?

Arteries are located deeper in the body than veins and so are not visible as many of your veins are. You'll know you hit an artery if: The plunger of your syringe is forced back by the pressure of the blood. When you register, the blood in your syringe is bright red and 'gushing.

What are the signs of an accidental arterial puncture?

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• bleeding has restarted.
• swelling that is large or increasing in size.
• numbness or pins and needles in the arm, hand or fingers.
• severe or worsening pain.
• coldness or paleness of the lower arm, or hand of the affected arm.

What happens if you hit a vein hard?

If you've crushed a vein or artery, you may feel pain or pressure, and see or feel a lump or bruise.

How do you know if you blew a vein?

What are the primary symptoms of a blown vein?

1. tenderness or mild pain around the injection site.
2. stinging.
3. bruising.
4. swelling.

How long does it take for a vein to heal?

You can keep your veins in good shape if you let them heal before you use them again. If you don't let your veins heal, you may be at risk of collapsed veins or infections. Rotating your vein is often recommended, where you let one spot heal while you use another. A vein usually takes a couple of days to heal.

How do you know if you hit a nerve while injecting?

Injections that occur below the deltoid muscle can hit the radial nerve and injections that are too far to the side of the deltoid muscle can hit the axillary nerve. If a nerve is hit, the patient will feel an immediate burning pain, which can result in paralysis or neuropathy that does not always resolve.

Can you get nerve damage from an injection?

Nerve injury is a common complication following intramuscular injection and the sciatic nerve is the most frequently affected nerve, especially in children, the elderly and underweight patients.

What are the side effects of intramuscular injections?

What are the complications of intramuscular injections?

• severe pain at the injection site.
• tingling or numbness.
• redness, swelling, or warmth at the injection site.
• drainage at the injection site.
• prolonged bleeding.
• signs of an allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing or facial swelling.

What happens if you inject into the sciatic nerve?

Sciatic nerve injury from an intramuscular (IM) injection into the buttock is potentially devastating. In severe cases, the hamstrings and all the muscles below the knee are paralysed resulting in a flail numb foot.

How long does a damaged sciatic nerve take to heal?

Summary. Sciatica results from pain due to irritation of the sciatic nerve. People can experience sciatic pain in the lower back, buttocks, and down the back of either leg. Sciatica usually gets better in 4–6 weeks, but it could last longer.

Why are intramuscular injections so painful?

The pain you are experiencing is usually soreness of the muscle where the injection was given. This pain is also a sign that your immune system is making antibodies in response to the viruses in the vaccine.

How can I ease the pain of IM injection?

Practice points

1. Assess the patient to ensure a good injection technique and suitability for manual pressure.
2. Use communication skills/distraction to reduce anxiety.
3. Wear sterile gloves to administer manual pressure.
4. 10 seconds of firm digital pressure is necessary.