An injection using a short, thin needle that is administered in the fatty layer of tissue just below the skin.
Where Can I Administer a Subcutaneous Shot?
Upper Arm
Uncover the arm to the shoulder to see the whole arm. Have the person receiving the shot stand with hand on hip. Stand next to and a little behind the person. Find the area in the middle part of the arm, halfway between the elbow and shoulder. Gently grasp the skin at the back of the arm between your thumb and first 2 fingers to make sure you can pinch 2.5-5cm of skin
Abdomen
Uncover the abdomen to see the whole area. Find the waist area. You may give a shot bounded by these landmarks: below the waist, to just above the hip bone, and from where the body curves at the side to about 2 inches from the middle of the abdomen. Avoid the surrounding area 2 inches from the belly button. Gently grasp the area to make sure you can pinch 2.5-5cm of skin.
Thigh
Uncover the entire leg. Find the area between the knee and hip. The middle of the thigh, from mid-front to mid-side, on the outside part of the thigh is a safe site. Gently grasp the area to make sure you can pinch 2.5-5cm of skin.
Hip
Uncover the side of the hip to see the upper outer quadrant. Stand or lie in a comfortable position that allows easy access to the injection site. Find a soft, fatty area on the outer hip. Gently grasp the area to make sure you can pinch 2.5-5cm of skin.
The Correct Angles and Ways To Hold the Syringe
A subcutaneous injection is given in the fatty layer of tissue just under the skin. Syringes for subcutaneous injections will use smaller needles than those used for injections into a muscle. The typical Insulin or TB syringes will have 1.25cm or less needle length because it only needs to go slightly below the skin level. Only certain types of injections can be given through this route. Subcutaneous shots can be given straight in at a 90-degree angle, or at a 45-degree angle. You can give the shot at a 90-degree angle if 2 inches of skin can be grasped between your thumb and first
(index) finger. If only 2.5cm of skin can be grasped, give the shot at a 45-degree angle.
