Caution: Watch for red, irritated areas. If excessive redness or pimples occur around the opening, call your doctor, reduce humidity delivered around the opening, and use only sterile water for cleaning. Do not use over-the-counter, petroleum-based creams like zinc oxide or Vaseline™* products around the opening. If your doctor prescribes an ointment, apply it according to his or her instructions.
Wash your hands.
Dip a cotton swab into the hydrogen peroxide and water mixture.
Roll the cotton swab between the tracheostomy tube and the skin around the opening. Clean from the stoma outward. This removes wet or dried mucus.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 using a fresh cotton swab each time, until the entire area around the opening is clean.
Rinse the area using clean cotton swabs dipped in clean water only.
Use a dry gauze pad to pat lightly around the opening.
Replace the tracheostomy dressing, if required.
The information and guidance presented on this website is informational only and not intended to influence practice or supersede the instructions for use of any specific device.
We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the following individuals to the production of this content: Marie Lemoine, M.S.N., RN, RCP, Rob St. John, M.S.N., RN, RRT, Paula Thompson, B.S., RRT, and Missy Toigo, M.A., CCC-SLP
