Retraction: The Key to a Happier Innoculation

So a frantic lady comes in on Thursday evening wanting another syringe to give her daughter a vitamin B-12 shot. She said she broke off the needle in the bottle when she was trying to draw it up. She asked if it was ok if the needle was in there. I said probably but I offered to give her a fresh bottle of B-12. She declined.

So I gave her four extra syringes and sent her off.

She comes back on Friday to tell me that she was able to draw out the solution but she freaked out because at first she thought the syringe broke off in her daughter's arm. She was about to take her to the 'Mergency room when she finally figured it out. The needle retracted into the syringe.

I said that the name of the syringe kind of clues you in to begin with. She asked what I meant by that. I said they're called VANISH POINT syringes. (Remember the story about Mary Mess?)

Then I reminded her that a week ago when she picked up the Rx that I told her the syringe would retract. She said she didn't know what that meant then but gets it now. And of course, that's what happened before and there is no broken off needle in the B-12 vial. That one retracted too.