A year or so ago I asked a GP friend of mine what sort of wipe I should be using when I injected B12 and was surprised by his answer, basically he said that I shouldn’t use one and that the thinking nowadays was that it was not necessary if the skin was, “visibly clean." I was surprised at this as for years I’d always used alcohol wipes but I did stop using them to no apparent harm. I checked and the WHO say, “if the skin is visibly clean there is no need to swab.”
I mention this as I imagine there are many of us who are trying to cut down on waste and when I think of all the little plastic and foil wrappers these things come in and the plastic in the wipes themselves all going into landfill well if it’s all unnecessary perhaps people should stop using them. I know if you have been injecting for many years as I had, using a wipe was part of the “ritual,” it was reassuring and gave me a feeling of security that I was doing it right! Now I never think of using one. My friend did say if I was worried I should inject after I’d showered, pointing out that surgeons before operating only use soap and water.
I am not criticizing anyone for using a swab and I’m not saying you should stop using them. I'm simply saying that it isn’t dangerous not to use one and it’s a step that you can miss without any problems should you wish.
Hi Hidden My practice nurses always used to swab before injecting but that was back in the days when the syringes and needles came out of a steam steriliser. Now with individually wrapped single use needles there is not the need for swabbing.
I've been having B12 jabs for over 48 years and I haven't dropped dead - yet.
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