IV class !

Yesterday, we taught an IV class -well IV and blood draws and all of the 'poky' things that midwives do.  

The participants covered finger sticks, learned about doing blood sugars checks with a portable in home device, doing injections called 'sub-Q', IM (for deep muscle injections), and Z-tract...then we discussed blood draws for obtaining lab specimens.  The participants practiced on my 'fake arm', then each other.  Then we did IV's, first on the fake arm then they practiced on each other.  We also talked about sterile water injections.  This little technique is not used often, but if needed for a mom whose baby maybe is not in a great position, and the labor is dragging on, and mom has a lot of back pain, it often helps so much!

 

Here is the spot that I demonstrated to the class on one brave volunteer...(and yes I wore gloves to actually do the injection-here in the photo we are showing by placing the needle at the site the size of the welt of sterile water that is injected)

 

And here is one of the class participants doing a return demonstration on another brave volunteer!

  

  

and it is done!

This is the meat (with skin on -on the other side) used to practice IM, and sub Q injections.

getting ready to practice on the fake arm...

  

  

  

Now they are actually drawing blood...and starting IV's, Great job!  Did it on the first try!

  

  

 

A lot of the supplies used for the day!

  

  

  

It was a great day!

Thanks to all who joined us!