Manual resuscitator bag (1119)
Key points below
Purpose
The manual resuscitator bag is used to give your child extra breaths.
Use the bag between suction passes, after suctioning, or whenever your child needs help to breathe.
The resuscitator bag also includes a mask. The mask has to cover both the mouth and nose. The mask size needs to be changed as your child grows. A smaller size mask can be considered for the stoma.
Using the bag
- Connect the bag to the tracheostomy tube:
- As you squeeze the bag, watch your child's chest rise.
- As soon as your child's chest rises, release the bag.
- Repeat this cycle of squeezing and releasing until your child is back to their baseline.
| If your child | Then |
| breathes on his or her own | Squeeze the resuscitator bag as soon as your child begins to breath in. |
| does not breathe on his or her own | Squeeze the bag at the same rate as the ventilator. |
Using oxygen with the bag
| If your child | Then |
| has oxygen ordered | Use it when hand ventilating your child at the flow determined by your medical team, and to maintain oxygen saturation >90%. |
| does not have oxygen ordered |
Keep your child on room air. |
Testing the bag
- Cover the patient outlet port with your hand; squeeze the bag; the pop off valve should raise allowing air to escape.
- Cover the patient outlet port and press down on the pop off valve simultaneously; the bag should not be able to be squeezed.
- If you are able to hear or feel air during the tests above, check all connections making sure they are tight.
| If the bag | Then |
| deflates | Check that all connections are tight. Be sure the yellow washers are lying flat and do not have holes. (Permanent bag only) |
| does not deflate | The bag has been put back together correctly. (Permanent bag only) |
Note: Your home care company may give you a permanent or disposable resuscitator bag. Follow their recommendations for cleaning/ disposing of your bag type.
Special directions
- Always have the bag in the same room as your child.
- Always keep a back-up resuscitator bag in your GO BAG.
- Be sure one resuscitator bag is with your child when the other bag is being cleaned.
- If any of the washers have holes or are torn, call your home care provider. (Permanent bag only)