You will mix insulin from two bottles (vials). The order in which you mix the cloudy (long-acting) and clear (short or rapid-acting) insulin is important. Follow the order of the steps below. Roll the cloudy insulin bottle gently between your hands. Roll the cloudy insulin bottle until all the white powder has...
Follow these steps when preparing an insulin shot with one type of insulin. Roll the bottle gently. Roll the insulin bottle (vial) gently between your hands. Roll a bottle of cloudy insulin until the white powder has dissolved. Rolling the bottle will warm the insulin if you have been keeping the bottle in the...
Learn how medicines and a healthy lifestyle help protect you from another heart attack.
Learn why it's important to prepare for the times when your baby won't stop crying.
Learn some tips that will help you put on your compression stockings.
It can be a little tricky to put on compression stockings at first. But after you practice a few times, it may get easier. Here are the details. Sit on a firm surface where your feet can touch the ground. Hold the top of the stocking with one hand. Then with your other hand, reach in and grab the heel. When you have a...
If medical help is not available to remove a fishhook, this method is an option. If removal of the fishhook is too painful, seek medical care. 1. Determine that the fishhook is deeply embedded and cannot be removed by the string-pull method. Use ice or cold water to numb the area. 2. Push the hook the rest of the way...
Learn simple steps you can use to stop a nosebleed.
Follow these steps to stop a nosebleed. Gently blow your nose to clear any clots. Sit up straight and tip your head slightly forward. Do not tilt your head back. This may cause blood to run down the back of your throat, and you may swallow it. Swallowed blood can irritate your stomach and cause vomiting. And vomiting...
Minor cuts on the head often bleed heavily because the face and scalp have many blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. Although this amount of bleeding may be alarming, many times the injury is not severe and the bleeding will stop with treatment you can do at home. But it is important to know the difference...
If emergency treatment is not needed, bleeding can usually be stopped by applying steady, direct pressure and elevating the wound. The following steps will protect the skin wound and protect you from exposure to another person's blood. Before you try to stop the bleeding: Wash your hands well with soap and water, if...
Learn how replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts can help you reach a healthy weight.
Learn a safe way to swaddle your new baby.
A rectal thermometer is the most accurate way to take a temperature. To take a rectal temperature: Apply a lubricant jelly or petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, on the bulb of the thermometer so that you can insert it easily. Choose a quiet place so that the child won't be distracted or move around too much. If you are...
Birth control pills come in packs. There are several ways you can start taking your first pack of pills. Talk with your doctor about when to start taking your pills. Quick start. During your medical appointment, take your first pill as soon as you get the pack from your doctor. Take the second pill the next day. During...
Grasp the cuff. Use the hand that you write with to grasp the cuff of the glove on the other hand. Pull the glove off. Pull that glove off so that it is inside out. Be sure any soiled material stays inside that glove. Ball up the glove. Ball up the removed glove in the palm of your gloved hand. Slide one or two bare...
Teaching your child by example isn't about being a perfect parent. True, it's about showing, or modeling, healthy choices and good behavior. But it's also about showing your child how to handle mistakes and recover from bad choices. It's easy to help a child learn from their own mistakes with questions like, "What...
An Amsler grid is a chart with horizontal and vertical lines that form boxes. It has a dot in the center. An Amsler grid is one of the easiest ways to screen for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Your doctor may give you an Amsler grid to use at home. If you usually wear reading glasses, put them on, and place the...
Explores one technique for recording your daily stresses, how you reacted, and how you coped. Explains how to use this record to look for patterns and explore better coping techniques.
Follow these steps to transport a piece of severed tongue. Wrap the piece of tongue in a clean cloth or sterile gauze, if available. Put the wrapped piece of tongue in a bag of ice to keep it cool. Do not put the tongue directly on the ice. Do not immerse the tongue in ice water. Go to the emergency room right away. Be...
Prompt home treatment can save the life of a person who is in shock. Call or other emergency services. Have the person lie down. If there is an injury to the head, neck, or chest, keep the legs flat. Otherwise, raise the person's legs at least 12 in. (30 cm). If the person vomits, roll him or her to one side to let...
Clip each fingernail straight across using nail clippers. Use a nail file to smooth sharp edges.
Clip each toenail straight across using nail clippers. Use a nail file to smooth sharp edges.
Learn how to use a breast pump.
Corticosteroid nasal sprays (such as Flonase, Nasacort, and Nasonex) are used to help allergy symptoms like a runny or stuffy nose. They help reduce inflammation in the nose. They start working quickly, but it may be several weeks before you get the full effect. Here are some tips for using these sprays: You may need to...
Gently work the dental tool floss between your teeth toward the gums. Curve the floss around each tooth, and gently slide it under the gum line. Move the floss firmly up and down several times to scrape off the plaque. Popping or snapping the floss in and out between the teeth without scraping will not remove much...
To position a male urinal, spread the legs and place the urinal between the legs. If possible, help your loved one sit up in the bed. This makes it easier and more comfortable to use a urinal. Cover your loved one with a sheet or blanket for privacy.
When you use an incentive spirometer, you'll breathe in air through a tube that is connected to a large air column containing a piston or ball. As you breathe in, the piston or ball inside the column moves up. The height of the piston or ball shows how much air you breathed in. You may feel lightheaded when you breathe...
Learn how to use a nebulizer, with a face mask, on your child.
Doctors recommend lying on your left side. This takes advantage of the natural angle of the rectum and makes it easier to insert the suppository. Always wash your hands and use gloves. Lubricate the finger of the glove with K-Y jelly or a similar product. You must first remove stool for the suppository to work. Have a...
