HOW TO PREVENT TRACHEOSTOMY

Wash your hands.

 Always wash your hands before and after you care for your tracheostomy.

Clean your tracheostomy equipment as directed.

Use clean or sterile trach care methods to clean your equipment.

Clean the area around your trach as directed. The area around your tracheostomy is called the mouth opening.

Keep your mouth clean.

 Saliva and mucus contain germs that cause infection if they enter your air. Brush your teeth twice a day. Suction your mouth as needed. Use a mouth wash twice a day or as directed.

Take deep breaths and cough 10 times each hour.

 This will decrease your risk for a lung infection. Take a deep breath and hold it for as long as you can. Let the air out and then cough strongly. Deep breaths help open your air. You may be given an incentive spirometer to help you take deep breaths. Put the plastic piece in your mouth and take a slow, deep breath, then let the air out and cough. Repeat these steps 10 times every hour.