Pee Pee Squeezee...

So your child wears diapers and you need to collect a urine sample..ummm yeah, right?  But how??  Here is a quick trick taught to us by a Pediatric PICU nurse for an easy way to collect a small sterile urine sample.

Place a dry/clean diaper on your child and insert several sterile gauze pads (or sterile cotton balls) into the diaper - enough to absorb a moderate amount of urine.   Once your child has urinated, wash your hands, glove up, remove the gauze pads and gently place them into a NEW sterile 60ml bolus syringe (remove the plunger first).  Place the plunger into the syringe and SQUEEZE the urine out into the testing vile(s) or sterile receptacle.  Discard syringe and supplies.

 

Hang'em High to Dry

Drip dry your cleaned/washed feeding tube extension sets by draping
them over a plastic clothes hanger (kids size are the best and least bulky).  Hang on your microwave handle or kitchen cabinet handle overnight and let them drip dry.

Rwwaaaar!! Make your own Tracheasaurus (Trach Doll or Pet)

Make a toy that looks like your kiddo who uses a trach.  It is as easy as 1, 2, 3!  Simply soak a used trach in pure bleach overnight and rinse thoroughly in cold water until the bleach is rinsed away.  Let air dry.  Cut the stem off the trach (this will spare you from having to damage a toy by poking a hole it it).  Attach new trach ties to the trach and place it tightly on your child's favorite animal toy or doll.  If you have sewing skills you can go the extra mile to sew it in place via the trach ties.  Now your child has a toy just like them!

A mean clean suction machine!

Adding a half capfull of antiseptic mouthwash to a suction canister can not only eliminate odors, but can cut down on bacterial growth and extend the life of your canister use.