Prepping an IV

Purpose

Quickly administer IV fluids
 

Equipment Needed

- IV solution (usually NS or LR)
- 2 IV catheters (one preferably smaller then the other, with one being a large bore)
- 15gtt set or bigger (known as large bore), 60gtts are usually used for medication
- Tape or other means of securing IV tubing
- Tourniquet
- Alcohol and/or Iodine prep pad
- Opsite (optional)

How to

Prep

Step 1

To prep your IV set you first need to think about what purpose it may be used for. For instance; my military trauma bag is stocked with LR and Hetistarch exclusively, while an EMS jump bag will likely contain NS, LR, and maybe D5W. So pick the fluid that you think you will most likely need. I also prefer to use 500ml bags, just easier to find places to pack them. Also pick your catheters based on the most likely patient you will be treating. I don’t have to worry a whole lot about pediatrics on the battlefield. Yes I am prepared for them, but my most likely patient is going to be a healthy male from 17-30. So I can afford to go with larger bore catheters.

Step 2

So after you have selected your choices for your preparation, gather up all the other equipment you will need. Now there are some cool products out there for prepping IV bags, little sleeves, or Velcro rolls that will hold everything you need and sometimes more. But I prefer to keep it simple and not risk losing one more thing I have to pay for. So… I use the bag the IV solution comes in. Simply make a slit with a knife at one end or the other (don’t cut the actual IV solution bag!), don’t worry this will leave the solution sterile and as this bag will likely get used soon, no real harm is done.

Step 3

Next take all your equipment and place it in the bag with the IV solution. For my set ups I prefer an Opsite, along with a few strips of 1-2in tape tabbed on the outside of my bag. Then I take a piece of tape and reseal the IV bag and wa la! A handy all in one ready to use IV set up. This is one method to use to prep your IV bags, some people like to use a constricting band and wrap everything around the outside of the IV bag. Next is how to actually set up your equipment for use.

Setup

Step 1

Open up your IV line package, place the drip chamber in one hand.

Step 2

Grab you IV bag with your other hand. Pull the IV admin port plug off with the port facing up and pierce with the drip chamber.

Step 3

Turn the whole set up, and allow fluid to run out the entire line. Try and remove most of the air you can… but a little bit wont hurt.

Step 4

Hang in a location above the patient. Now your ready to perform your stick and get your IV running.

Follow On

Remember to place all your equipment where you can easily access it, clean up your trash (I like using the out IV bag as a handy mini trash bag), collect up your sharps and MAKE SURE your IV line is secure!

IV Setup
 

Equipment you will need: IV solution, drip set, catheter, constricting band, gloves, alcohol swab, 2×2, opsite, and tape.     An IV bag prepped and ready to go. You can see the tape on the outside, and the catheters/alcohol/opsite.

Notes

There are a lot of different way to prep your IV bag for later use. Try a couple different ways out, find one you like, and then stick to it. That way no matter how crappy a situation your in, you know that your IV prep will always be the same and one less thing to interfere or get in the way.