Learn what to pack in your child's medical travel bag when you and your child leave the home.
Key points
Whenever you leave your home with your child, even for a short time, take your child's tracheostomy equipment and supplies in a medical travel bag.
Keep the medical travel bag stocked with enough supplies for an average day caring for your child.
Before you leave home, check that you have replaced any single-use items and that all equipment and machines are working.
Introduction
Travelling with a child with a tracheostomy tube, even for a short period of time, requires planning and preparation.
You will need to pack a medical travel bag with a range of supplies. The bag should accompany your child on any trips outside the home (no matter how short) in case your child needs to be suctioned or needs a tracheostomy tube change.
Treatment
What to pack in your medical travel bag
Your medical travel bag will need to include:
your child’s tracheostomy kit
cleaning supplies
additional equipment and supplies
The exact number of supplies you will need will depend on how long you plan on being away from home. In general, keep your medical travel bag stocked with enough supplies for an average day caring for your child. You will need to add more supplies for full-day or multi-day trips.
Tracheostomy kit
Tracheostomy outer cannula with ties attached and obturator of the same size
Tracheostomy tube one size smaller with ties attached and obturator (store in a small, well-labelled clear bag)
Clean tracheostomy gauze (dressing)
Manual suction device: 20 mL syringe with feeding tube attached (in case the suction machine does not work)
Water soluble lubricant
Round-ended scissors
Normal saline nebules (small, sealed tubes that are filled with saline)
Cleaning supplies
Saline-soaked cotton swabs (single use)
Disposable container or clean cup for water
Saline nebules
Gauze pads
Wet facecloth
Dry facecloth
Additional tracheostomy equipment and supplies
Sterile water and container
Good light source
Portable suction machine and adjuncts
Suction tubing and suction catheters (as many as you think you will need while out, based on your child’s needs)
Manual resuscitation bag with tracheostomy adaptor and the appropriate sized mask
Towel, to help your child stay in position
Oximeter
Oxygen, if needed
Plastic bag for dirty equipment or garbage
Emergency contact list
Current list of medications (if your child needs any)
Precaution
You will need to replace some items in your medical travel kit after a single use. Before you leave your home, always check that the travel bag contains all the supplies you need and that all machines are working.
