Air Lock

[lyon22t]

Hi,

I'm a nursing student and am a little confused about creating an air lock? Why is it necessary? So I take medication from the vial and draw up extra air after that? I don't automatically invert the syringe, correct? I keep the syringe and the needle upright after? After what period of time can I give the injection to make sure the air hasn't been displaced?

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

An air lock makes it easier for all the medication

to get into the syringe and then it seals the track so no irritating medication gets in The technique is accomplished by first drawing medication into the syringe. Once the desirable volume is obtained, 0.1 to 0.3 ml of air is drawn into the syringe. The medication is injected first at a 90 degree angle (usually when the patient is lying down) directly into the muscle. The air bubble is injected after the medication.