Let the Adventure Begin!

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DRT  EMERGENCY PROCEDURES IF VENTILATOR STOPS WORKING and the vent alarm won't quit:  ·       Look at the vent alarm. Read it to Don.  ·       If the alarm is this:  ·       Try to fix the vent - start looking at my trach and continue down the tubes searching.  It might be the blue tube popped off. ·       Look at the yellow tube up by my trach for moisture. If you see it unscrew the yellow tube at the vent. Blow hard to clear the moisture. Keep blowing quick bursts until clear.  ·       If vent still not working, get Don on 2 nd vent. ·       If  2 nd  vent not an option due to time it takes to get vent from living room, grab Ambu bag and help him breathe. o     Take off the trach below the accordion and attach the Ambu bag as shown below:  o     Squeeze bag half way then let go.  o     Repeat every 3 to 5 seconds.  o     Ask Don if speed is OK. Keep watching Don.   ·          After a few minutes, retry the “broken” vent. If still not working, b

Pending  Procedure for driving the van Before driving me anywhere, make sure that my head band is snug and centered . Even when the headband is on- Always hold my head when going through doorways or bumps when not in the van.  If the sun is bright, I would like to wear my sun glasses before going outside into the brightness.  New or Old Railroad tracks: Slow down to a reasonable speed where you won’t rattle my teeth out of my head. Use flashers when necessary. The flashers don’t operate in the rear when you brake, so make sure that you turn them on early. Adjust speed as necessary on the older tracks. Some of the new tracks are worse than the older tracks Emergency Procedures You are required to carry your cell phone with you whenever you take me out.  If you hear the vent alarm go off, stop driving, put on the flashers, come to see what is causing the Low Pressure Alarm. Check the trach first and then follow the circuit the way it hooks to the vent. If I start to panic becau

Pending  You MUST have your cell phone whenever you take Don out! Back Pack- Extra Water Bottle 2-3 Food tubes- one for burping Clips and wash cloth for burping Food/snack and meds for time away Front pocket- Wallet Glasses/Sunglasses Spell Board Suction Machine in carrying bag- Water in bottle Empty bottle 4 Red Catheters Baggies of at least 4 Gloves Sunglasses ? Hat? Arm Warmers? Jacket? Blanket? Is ERICA needed? In Van Emergency clothing Extra feeding tube, aspirin, etc. Ambu Bag Extra White Circuit ERICA L brace to mount on the wheelchair  LOADING IN VAN- Turn on AC in summer and heat (only after warm up) in winter. Open ramp without “kneeling” onto curb. Open ramp with “kneeling” onto flat. Remove head band- set tilt to 6, feet to 80 to enter Van. Tuck in left hand and elbow; don’t want to loose any fingers or skin.  Gently push shoulder so head doesn’t hit top of door while going through door.  Once inside raise head and tilt chair bac

DRT  When I spell AC  or look at the AC machine in the living-room -  ask me if I am hot or cold.  Important – if AC is on during dinner,  open my bedroom door and make sure the window fan is on exhaust to pull cool air in my room. How to turn off my bedroom window fan easy - just hold the mode button until it stops!  My bedroom ceiling fan has 3 speeds. One pull of the black bear (never the birds nest hanging from the bear) is high. Two pulls – medium. Three is low. All above applies when it is totally off When we go out and the AC isn’t on turn it on  if the afternoon temperature is expected to be hot.   This applies to Doctor Billica days too.  The only dial you should touch is the bottom dial:   AC  on  instructions: I will tell you when to turn it on, usually in the late morning or afternoon.  Never turn AC on above the 75 degrees mark.  Af ter you turn on close all windows and doors. In my room turn window fan to exhaust. Since I do