How the DeVilbissVacu-Aide Quiet Suction Unit Benefits You

By:  Kevin Cleary

Many people may require additional medical support at home after dealing with a medical condition either in the hospital or in a clinical setting. Those who suffer from certain respiratory issues or infectious wounds may need to drain excess fluid from these trouble spots at home. The convenience of being able to accomplish this at home cannot be overstated. Instead of traveling to the doctor’s office or local hospital, patients can now use the DeVilbiss Vacu-AideQuiet Suction Unit in the comfort and privacy of their own home. It’s an efficient and quieter way to drain fluids in privacy.

Understanding Your Suction Unit

               Anytime there is a medical need to remove fluid from the body the use of the suction unit can make the process more convenient and private. It is obviously more convenient to do this therapy in your home then have to go to a medical center or hospital to achieve these results. The DeVilbiss Quiet Suction Unit allows the user to perform any suction therapy in their home or even on the road utilizing the portability of the battery option. This unit has been manufactured and tested to the ISO 10079-1:1999 standard for suction equipment. This includes the following tests:
1.Electromagnetic Compatibility Test: This unit does not interfere or isn’t susceptible to interference from other equipment such as ventilators.
2.Drop Test and Shock Vibration Test: Unit is less susceptible to damage when dropped or during shipping.
3.Excessive Temperature Test: Works effectively in a wide range of temperatures.
 

This suction unit not only makes suction therapy quieter, but also simple and easy. It can be utilized for a multitude of maladies that include:

· Visible secretions
· Suspected aspiration of gastric/upper airway secretions
· Coarse rhonchi and expiratory wheezing audible with/without auscultation
· Frequent or congested sounding cough

The Vacu-Aide Quiet Suction Unit meets guidelines set by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) for neonatal, infant, child, and adult home care suctioning. They include:

·  Neonates 60-80 mm Hg
·  Infants 80-100 mm Hg
·  Children 100-120 mm Hg
·   Adults 100-150 mm Hg

Any suction therapy should follow guidelines set forth by the American Association for Respiratory Care for suctioning of the patient at home. This can be done with or without an artificial airway. This can include nasal, oropharyngeal, and endotracheal suctioning.

AARC Guideline: Suctioning of the patient at home

Getting Started

Your physician can determine if you are a candidate for suction therapy at home. At only 6.6 pounds, this unit has a small footprint which can easily lead to greater patient compliance for treatment. With an integrated gauge and flow regulator, its easy-to-turn knob increases control and ease-of-use, making any treatment more user-friendly and intuitive. The DeVilbiss Vacu-Aide Quiet Suction Unit has a free flow rate of 27 liters /minute, but protects the user against an overflow of fluid by incorporating a float shut off to avoid any potential mess even though this unit can hold up to 800 mL of fluid. Unlike some units that are purely AC powered, this unit offers a multitude of power options that includes AC/DC power cords as well as a battery option for portability. Choose which option best fits your lifestyle!!

Devilbiss Vacu-Aide User Instruction Guide

Keeping Your Unit Clean

In order to keep your unit working properly and to extend its operating lifetime, it is important to perform regular, routine maintenance and cleaning. After disassembling the Quiet Suction Unit, a simple bath in soapy water can keep your unit clean and functioning properly. You should take care to not get the filter wet when cleaning. Simply remove it and set it aside.

Once the unit has air dried completely (air drying is more sanitary), simply reassemble the unit and be sure to reinsert or replace the filter you removed before cleaning the unit. You are ready to go!!

Any respiratory or wound suctioning therapy can now be done in the privacy of your own home or anywhere you need to be. No longer do you need to brave the elements to go to a medical center or your doctor’s office in order to overcome any discomfort fluid buildup in your body may present. With a variety of powered options, the DeVilbiss Vacu-Aide Quiet Suction Unit has all your bases covered. It’s quiet performance and smaller size allows for greater patient compliance, therefore eliminating many potential hazards associated with noncompliance. You should work with your doctor or respiratory therapist to become fully trained in home use and regain more independence and a greater quality of life.

Using the Standard Evacuation Chair for Emergencies

By: Kevin Cleary

Emergencies come in all forms: fires, earthquakes, and floods, these are just some of the potential emergency situations when individuals with limited mobility find themselves at a distinct disadvantage. For those who may be blind or dealing with a disability that can hamper a quick exit in times of distress, being able to have a safe and effective method for vacating their home, apartment, or office can be a matter of life and death. Finding a simple and efficient method of evacuation is important. Enter the Evac Chair 300HStandard Evacuation Chair. Using this mobility aid may at times be your only option for a safe evacuation.

Be Prepared!

Every second counts, especially in an emergency so being able to overcome the obstacle of stairs is crucial. The Boy Scout motto is “Always Be Prepared” and that can never be more important than when an emergency arises. Whether at work or in the home, an escape plan is the key to survival. First responders are professionals that are highly trained, but sometimes they could use a little help in order to evacuate those with physical limitations or handicaps. This is where the Evac Chair Standard Evacuation Chair is the right tool for the right job. Those with limited mobility are easily extracted with the help of the evacuation chair. Its features and specifications include:

• Dual position seating
• Simple one person operation
• Lightweight (19 pounds)
• Locking rear wheels
• A 400 pound capacity
• 41” high (folded)
• 20” wide (folded)
• 8” depth (folded)
• 5 year warranty
• DDA compliant
• Padded leg and back for comfort

This piece of rescue equipment is also very user-friendly and intuitive so that just about anyone can use it with minimal training. Each chair comes with a training DVD that is very straightforward and easy to follow. They can be strategically placed in the home or office building and be ready to use at a moment’s notice. Stored with a vinyl dust cover to keep everything protected and fully functioning, it can be wall-mounted with the included bracket so it’s where you need it, when you need it. Also included is photo luminescent signs to make it simple and obvious as to its location. Preparing your evacuation chair for use is simple and easy; just simply open the chair (there are no tricky release mechanisms) and allow the user to sit and buckle up. That’s it!!

How Does It Work?

When things seem too easy, people may think that this apparatus won’t work. Not the case here!! Those that are wheelchair-bound or are not able to extradite themselves from a dangerous situation quickly enough simply must sit and allow the operator to quickly remove them from harm’s way. This tracked chair has a unique self braking system to keep the dissent downstairs safe and under control. It saves lives!! It can comfortably maneuver two flights of stairs in 15 seconds or four floors in one minute. Not only can this unit maneuver stairs, but on flat ground a foldout, two wheel trolley allows for easy handling, just like a wheelchair. In the case of an unconscious passenger, there are user-friendly restraints that are easy to use. In addition to a lap belt, there is a chest strap that secures the rider’s upper body to the unit comfortably and securely. Each rescue chair has dual seating options: flat seat or hammock seat. Just unzip the side panels and away you go.

This allows the operator and passenger to determine what is the right seating option each and every time. To open the chair for use, follow these steps:

•  Stand behind chair holding chair upright and place 1 foot on the blue base frame to steady unit
• Use both hands to pull handle upwards until shoulder clips lock in place (headrest should not slide down the handle)
• While standing behind chair, undo seatbelt and release skids
• Open seat by pulling skis towards you and push seat partially downward into position
•  Pull up on seat frame against ski to ensure proper position

Operation

Once the passenger has been secured in the seat, it is now time to descend to safety. First thing the user must do is close the trolley wheels before descending downstairs. It is now that you tilt the chair back into its two wheeled position and move towards the top of the stairs. At the edge, tilt the evacuation chair backwards slightly more and comfortably start descending the stairs. It’s quite obvious but it must be stated, never let go of the chair!! With your hands on the horizontal bar, you should push gently downward and descend. If all goes well there are no bumps. It’s the smooth, tracked braking system that allows you to safely navigate the passenger down to safety. Once down on flat ground and ready to exit either the home or the office, simply pop out the two trolley wheels and the Evac Chair operates like a wheelchair.
Emergencies come in every form and they don’t care where. House or office fires, power outages that leave elevators inoperable and even terrorist attacks can leave those with limited mobility behind. The Evac Chair 300H Standard Evacuation Chair makes it so that no person is left behind and can be evacuated in the case of any emergency. With little training, just about any person can use this great escape apparatus to help a family member or coworker exit the premises.

OPEP Therapy System That Works For You

By: Kevin Cleary

There is nothing quite as important as breathing. Yet, for those who suffer with COPD, asthma, or even cystic fibrosis breathing does not come as easy as it does to others. ? Their health depends on respiratory therapy. Many times those with respiratory issues are prescribed pharmaceutical drugs in order to open up their airways, but what if there was a natural, drug-free way to breathe easier? The Monaghan Aerobika OPEP (Oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure) Therapy System does just that. By creating positive pressure to keep smaller airways open and oscillation to break up mucus, this drug-free device is simple and easy to use. Now, you can help yourself clear mucus from the airways in the lungs to allow for freer breathing.

How It Works

As anyone who has had difficulty breathing fully understands, many times mucus buildup can hamper our ability to get a full breath. We deal with this normally by coughing and expelling mucus from our airways. Those who suffer from COPD or cystic fibrosis can relate with the frustration of not being able to always cough effectively. The Monaghan OPEP therapy system uses positive pressure and simultaneous oscillations to help move mucus to the upper airways to be coughed out. The system offers therapy that is not position dependent. This means the user can be in any position that is comfortable during therapy. This creates an easy way to clear any airway for improved breathing. By coughing and removing mucus, we can breathe easier and decrease the amount of coughing a restricted airway can produce. More importantly, this ability to clear airways reduces the probability of infection and increases lung hygiene.  Before use, the user should examine the device for any defects that are visible and replace it immediately. In order to use properly, the mouthpiece should be placed in the mouth and make sure your lips create a good seal around the mouthpiece. Care should be taken to avoid blocking the exhalation port on the back of the unit. You should inhale a larger than normal breath, but not to the point where you totally fill your lungs. Hold that breath for 2-3 seconds and then exhale. This exhalation should last 3-4 times longer than your normal exhalation. This should be repeated 10-20 times or for as long as your doctor has suggested. If you feel lightheaded, immediately discontinue therapy and inform your doctor.  This therapy system offers five different resistance settings for each patient’s lung capacity and operates with a range of 10 L/min-30 L/min. This inexpensive and quiet therapy system offers a minimum interruption of your everyday chores while improving your quality of life. Who knew improving your breathing capability could be so easy!!

Understanding Your OPEP System

In order to use your Monaghan Aerobika OPEP system properly, you should understand all of its parts and options. First of all, it has been clinically proven that the Monaghan Aerobika OPEP therapy system increases the ability to cough up mucus while at the same time decreasing cough frequency and breathlessness with a drug-free approach, plus on the backside of the therapy system is a 22 mm fitting to accommodate small-volume nebulizers. It also has a low resistance valve to allow the user to inhale and exhale without removing the unit from their mouth. Most importantly it is assembled in such a way that when taken apart is designed to be reassembled correctly each and every time. Pretty smart, this way you can’t assemble it incorrectly and hinder any therapy. Conveniently the unit disassembles into four separate parts: the top case, mouthpiece, valve cartridge, and bottom case. To disassemble the unit, simply press the tabs to release and remove the valve cartridge and mouthpiece. Do not attempt to disassemble any part of the valve cartridge. After a 15 minute bath in soapy water the user should shake out any water and dry vertically. Each unit is designed for six months of use and is dishwasher safe, just not with overly dirty dishes, for simple cleaning for use in the home (or even in a clinical setting). Users don’t need to be concerned about potential hazards in the material since its North American design is free from natural rubber latex, phthalates, lead, or PVC. Talk about peace of mind!!

When treating any respiratory ailment, doctors would always prefer to do so with an eye towards the least amount of medication. The Monaghan Aerobika OPEP Therapy System takes that idea even further by eliminating medication altogether. This allows the user to cough up mucus without the aid of any medication and breathe easier. Anytime pharmaceuticals are introduced to our body, side effects can occur and using this system eliminates the possibility. Ask yourself, do I want to breathe easier in a natural manner? Of course you do, so ask your physician if the Monaghan Aerobika OPEP Therapy System is right for you.