Tracheostomy Tips from Families and Patients

trach tips for cleaning

Patients and families with tracheostomy live each day with a trach and often become experts in management.  Some patients have provided tracheostomy tips to help in the day to day life of living with a tracheostomy.  

Tracheostomy Tips for Getting Help

 Teach your tribe about your trachie! It truly takes a village! As long as the village is willing to suction, change a trach, do trach ties! You’re good to go! We are not in this world alone! Lean on your people! You were braced with so much information when you came home with your child.

The same way they built and trained armies of amazing NICU/PICU nurses to run in and help your baby in emergencies! Build your team! Aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends! Will make the journey worth while! Give them the benefit of the doubt!

Normalize this aspect of life!!  And live your life! Trach/vent/o2 dependent life TO THE FULLEST!! Put the vent on your back! Carry your little one and each one of your family will be responsible for other equipment!
.

Tracheostomy Tips for Organization

staying organized is the easiest way to properly manage all of the care and supplies
Screen Shot 2021 05 19 at 10.31.01 PM
Kylie
tracheostomy tips

What Do You Say to People Who Ask Questions About Your Child with Tracheostomy

People who have never seen a tracheostomy may stare or ask questions about the tracheostomy tube.  One mother has provided a hand out on card stock to provide information to others that do not understand.  

tracheostomy tip for other parents

Tracheostomy Tips for Cleaning the Tracheostomy Tube

.

Things you wish you knew about tracheostomy

  • Learn how to change the trach ties BY YOURSELF before you leave the hospital
  • When you change your child’s trach, remember that their heart doesn’t stop when you take it out. It’s ok to breath when you’re doing a change, they won’t die.
  • Know your waters: sterile, filtered, and tap water all do different things.
  • When in doubt, change it out. If your child has thick secretions, or if they have a cold, change their trach. 
  • Ask all the questions, educate everyone. 
  • If your child is in the hospital for a procedure, YOU are their top specialist. YOU are in charge. YOU have more education about your child than any of the medical professionals. Own that. 
  • Take a deep breath. Taking care of a human with a trach is tough.
  • Get a small travel oxygen tank. It’s so much more convenient. 
  • Never leave home without your suction machine or your emergency trach bag.
 

  These are suggestions from patients and families with tracheostomy and should not take the place of medical advice.  

Subscription Form

Subscribe for free to get our latest tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation posts, new products, and information about our new membership (coming soon!)

Related Articles

COVID-19 Tracheostomy and Mechanical Ventilation

The 2019 novel corona virus COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in patients intubated and use of mechanical ventilation. The United States and globally, we are likely to see an increase in tracheostomy as well, as patients may have difficulty weaning and require longer periods of time on a vent. COVID-19 also has implications for healthcare workers, as there are shortages with workers becoming ill from the virus. Infection control is paramount in controlling the outbreak and protecting patients, healthcare workers and the community

Responses

join trach courses

Subscribe now