MAKE YOUR INJECTION
A SAFE INJECTION
                 DID YOU KNOW?                                                                     WHO IS AT RISK?
    An unsafe injection could put you at risk of getting
           a life-threatening infection such as:
     30%                            3%                          0.3%
                                                                                          PATIENTS               CHILDREN IN THE             HEALTH CARE
                                                                                                                  COMMMUNITY                  WORKERS
HEPATITIS B                  HEPATITIS C                          HIV                     who receive        who play near areas where       who get injured
                                                                                             unsafe          syringes and needles have          by used
 Estimated risk of getting these infections from a contaminated syringe or needle.         injections.           been thrown away.              needles.
                              WHAT MAKES AN INJECTION UNSAFE?
1                                           2                                                3                                   4
          Re-use of syringes                              Overuse of injections                                                            Unsafe collection
                                                                                                         Lack of clean
          and needles,                                    for illnesses where medicines                                                    and disposal
                                                                                                         work spaces
          and other injection                             by mouth are available                                                           of used injection
                                                                                                         and hands.
          equipment.                                      and recommended.                                                                 equipment.
                                                      DO YOU REALLY NEED
                                                         AN INJECTION?
                                                            How to make smart injection choices
  WHAT YOU CAN DO                                                                                                 WHAT YOU CAN DO AS A
  AS A PATIENT                                                                                                    HEALTH CARE WORKER
          Ask if a medicine taken by                                                                                     Offer your patient a medicine
    1     mouth is available. These can                                                                              1   that can be taken by mouth,
          work as well as injections.                                                                                    if available.
          If you do need an injection, ask                                                                               Use smart syringes that can be
    2     for a smart syringe as they can be                                                                         2   used once only. Open the package
          used once only. Check that the                                                                                 in front of your patient to reassure
          syringe and needle package is                                                                                  them that the syringe and needle
          new, sealed and undamaged.                                                                                     have not been used before.
          Make sure your skin is                                                                                         Clean the area where the injection
    3     disinfected before                                                                                         3   is being given and perform hand
          the injection.                                                                                                 hygiene before giving the injection.
          Talk to your children and community                                                                             Place the needle, syringe and single
    4     about the dangers of picking up                                                                            4   use vial in a safety sharps box as
          used syringes and needles.                                                                                     soon as they have been used.
Make smart injection choices and help avoid the risk of
infection from an unsafe injection.
For more information visit:
www.who.int/infection-prevention