Glucagon is an emergency medication used to treat severe low blood glucose in children and adults.

When a child or an adult is comatose or having seizures due to severe low blood glucose, stay calm and do not force-feed. Caregiver can inject glucagon for the patient.

Check the expiry date of the medication.

Remove the plastic cap from the vial. Pull the needle cover off the syringe.

Do not touch the rubber stopper of the vial or the needle.

Insert the needle through the rubber stopper of the vial and inject all the solvent from the syringe into the vial.

Without taking the needle out of the vial, gently shake the vial until the powder has completely dissolved, and the solution is clear.

Turn the vial upside down and keep the needle in the solution, slowly withdraw the solution back into the syringe and then pull out the needle.

Keep the needle pointing up, check the syringe for air bubbles. If you see bubbles, tap the syringe until the bubbles rise to the top of the syringe. Gently push the plunger to expel all the air bubbles.

Injection dose: If body weight is less than 25kg, inject 0.5mg. If body weight is more than or equal to 25kg, inject 1mg.

Injection site: The outer aspect of the thigh muscle (as shown in the picture).

Injection procedure: Get disinfection. Pinch up the thigh muscle, insert the whole needle vertically and inject.

After injection, use a gauze to press the injection site to stop bleeding, then put the used syringe into the plastic box for disposal.

After injection, place the patient in a recovery position, and call an ambulance to A&E for treatment.

Acknowledgement:
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Hong Kong Children’s Hospital
Central Nursing Division, Queen Elizabeth Hospital