Help! Breaking Ampule techniques

medic8 · Feb 17, 2010

haha! that's easy... I used to have the same problem. We were taught wrong by our C.I.'s We were taught that we should position the apmule with the small dot facing us. It shatters most of the time when I used to do what they taught us. But I discovered that it's the other way around. Try positioining the ampule with the small dot facing away from you...

that's it! congratulations! hehe!

windfreakzz · Feb 17, 2010

i know how you feel ^_^ any use a file peace

uma-ar-en-si-mac",) · Feb 18, 2010

i know how you feel ^_^ any use a file peace

yes, filing makes breaking ampule easier, especially those large ones... :)

jax_RN · Feb 18, 2010

Hi! May I suggest that you use a cotton cloth (or any piece of cloth) wrapped around the head of the ampule. Grabbing the ampule from the head, firmly position your thumb towards the dot / line while your pointing finger is parallel to the ampule's neck. Twist it and you will hear a breaking or 'popping' sound. This technique helps to avoid puncture and breaking the ampule. Though based on experience, there are really some ampules (like vitamin c amps) that are very fragile. This technique helps lessen the risk of injury. Take care! Hope this helps. :nurse:

Nurse_PUKYAW · Feb 18, 2010

use a ampule cutter keep it handy or a VOLT CUTTER lol

gambutrol · Feb 19, 2010

How to break an ampule easily? You just place the dot away from.. place your pointing finger on the DOT and then place your thumb OPPOSITE THE DOT.. (REMEMBER THAT THE AREA OPPOSITE THE DOT IS THE WEAKEST POINT OF THE AMPULE, and NOT the DOT itself) you then use gentle snapping force in order to open the ampule..

What if their is no dot? Then that's the time that you use a file or an ampule opener to open the ampule.

Using a cloth or cotton could sometimes help.

tron22 · Feb 19, 2010

Thanks for replying guys.. It's really a big help for me.. I'm scared to shatter ampule head again because fragments might mix with the meds. And there's no filter needle available in hospital. tsktsk! I'll take your advice until I done it properly. Thanks again!

rnsrgr8t · Feb 19, 2010

If you don't have easy access to cotton pad, I used to always open an alcohol packet (just tear it open on the end) and place the top of the ampule in the open packet (with the pad in there). Protects your fingers, even if it does break...but it usually didn't.