Association of Anaethetists: Syringe labelling and handling injectable medications

Question 1

Give the colour of the label for each of the following drug classes:
- Anti-emetics
- Anticholinergics
- Benzodiazepines
- Benzo antagonists
- Induction drugs
- Local Anaesthetics
- Miscellaneous drugs
- Heparin
- Protamine
- Suxamethonium
- Non-depolarising muscle relaxants
- Muscle relaxant reversal drugs
- Opioids
- Opioid antagonists
- Vasopressors
- Adrenaline
- Hypotensive drugs

Answer 1

• Anti-emetics: Salmon
• Anticholinergics: Green
• Benzodiazepines: Orange
• Benzo antagonists: Orange and white stripes
• Induction drugs: Yellow
• Local Anaesthetics: Grey
• Miscellaneous drugs: White
• Heparin: White with black border
• Protamine: Black and white stripes
• Suxamethonium: Black and red
• Non-depolarising muscle relaxants: Red
• Muscle relaxant reversal drugs: Red and white stripes
• Opioids: Blue
• Opioid antagonists: Blue and white stripes
• Vasopressors: violet
• Adrenaline: black and violet
• Hypotensive drugs: violet with white stripes

Question 2

Recommendations for organisations to prevent drug errors

Answer 2

• Report via an incident reporting system
• Discussion at M&M
• Guidelines written on the safe handling of medications
• A named pharmacist to liaise with re drug purchasing and purchasing to promote drug safety
• Separate local anaesthetics from IV drugs and locked cupboards
• Standardise concentrations across the department
• Colour-coded trays
• Consider pre-filled syringes

Question 3

Recommendations for individuals to prevent drug errors

Answer 3

• Sterile cock-pit environment when drawing up
• Draw up and label one syringe at a time
• Read the ampoule prior to drawing up
• When finished labelling compare label to ampoule
• Encourage two-person checking where possible
• ## Discard all syringes between cases

Question 4

Medication checking for sterile procedures

Answer 4

• Any medication or solution that is to be injected should be drawn up directly from the syringe not put in a gallipot
• Two-person checking
• Sterile labels used when possible
• Consistent layout of work surface