Home care trach suppliesWhen your child is discharged, there are supplies that you will need to have in place in the home. Supplies are offered by St. Jude unless otherwise noted.
How to suction a trachMucus collects in and around the trach tube. Some children can cough up the mucus, but they often require suctioning to help remove the mucus from the airway. This document offers step-by step instructions for suctioning your child’s trach.
How to use a trach humidity systemYour nose acts as a humidifier. When you breathe in, your nose moistens, filters, and warms the air before it enters your lungs. When a child has a tracheostomy (trach) tube, the air breathed in does not enter through the nose or mouth, and it is not warmed and humidified.
Things to avoid when your child has a trachWhen your child took a breath before his tracheostomy (trach) was placed, the air was warmed, filtered, and moistened by the nose and upper airway. Now that he has a trach, the air bypasses the nose and upper airway and enters directly into the lungs. Without the benefits of the upper airway and nose, it is important to keep the air around your child free of things that can irritate the lungs.
Trach To-Go BagThe Trach To-Go Bag contains everything that you will need to care for your child’s trach while you are away from home.
TracheostomyA tracheostomy is a small opening through the skin into the windpipe (trachea). This opening is called a stoma. A small plastic tube called a tracheostomy (trach) tube is placed through this stoma to help your child breathe.
Tracheostomy and a Passy-Muir valveSpeech is made by air that moves up from the lungs through the vocal cords. With a tracheostomy (trach), most of the air bypasses the vocal cords and exits through the trach tube. This alters or lessens the person’s ability to create speech.
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