How We Live

 

 

Safety

 

SAFETY HINTS [from our members]

 

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS DATABASE

I was searching on the internet for a household product this morning and came across the following database that is available thru the National Institutes of Health (NIH).You can search by categories, types of products, or any ingredient. The section with the title MSDS will show you the Manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet for the product.  It is required on products and lists all the ingredients, side effects, and warnings. This database includes products used in Auto, Landscape, Pet Care, Home Maintenance, Inside the House, Personal Care, Arts & Crafts, Home Office and Pesticides.   http://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm

[Buck Martin]

 

SEAT BELTS


Some laryngectomees have difficulty wearing automobile seat belts.

1. Check out the Seat Belt Slider. This might move the belt just enough for you to comfortably wear it. (Dutch Helms)

2. I went to a store that made heavy canvas awnings. I took two ring snaps ( get at any hardware store) and had them fold heavy canvas at least three times and sew me a strap. Had a loop in one end and the snap in the other, I bolted an eye bolt to the floor of my car on the left side of my seat and I am set to go. I slip the loop over my regular seat belt and snap the hook into the floor eyebolt. It took a little accurate measuring but it works like a charm. My belt now rides across the center of my chest away from my stoma and I am very well anchored in my vehicles. I have to fasten the installed car belt and then snap my hook into the eye bolt. (Ron Gillette)

3. Take a small paper cup (the three ounce size will do just fine) and place it between your chest and the seat belt. This will take the seat belt off of your stoma but, in the event of an accident, the belt will have only been extended by two inches or so and the paper cup will easily collapse to allow the belt to do its intended job. You can also use a piece of thick foam to do the job. (Syd Gartenberg)

4. Although I am not a lary, I am short and have never used a seat belt comfortably until I copied my even-shorter mother, who used the fleece-like neck pads that fit on seat belts with velcro, found at automotive supply stores. (Beverly Stewart)

5. I had surgery 1985/? Had lymph nodes removed, radiation, (cancer of tongue) All on left side of head. Asked Dr. about seat belts and he gave me letter to not wear one. No mandatory law at that time to wear one. In 2001, had laryngectomy. Washington State made it a law, wear a seat belt or a $80 fine. You will be pulled over for not wearing a seat belt and it is nice to have a Dr's letter but you still will get pulled over to show the letter. (Ed DeBaugh)

 

 

EMERGENCY RESCUE BREATHING


There are two booklets available free of charge from the IAL. These booklets should be requested and given to local Emergency Personnel -- both Emergency Room and First Responders. They are available in both English and Spanish and can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat format.


Rescue Breathing for Laryngectomees and Other Neck Breathers


Respiración De Rescate Para Laringectomizados Y Otros Que Respiran Por El Cuello

 


STOMA PROTECTION

WHILE SANDING, DUSTING, MOWING, WOODWORKING.


Ideas of covers to wear when using equipment that raises dust. Wear any combination that does the job for you.

1. Stoma bib. It helps to catch and hold moisture as you breathe. If you are raking leaves, woodworking, vacuuming, or doing anything that raises dust, dampen your bib so it will clean the air for you.


2. Foam stoma cover and a cloth one over it. You will have to be careful around sanders (hand, disk, belt) and anyone sanding on a lathe.
Jerry L.


3. Hi-flo HME cassette 24/7 in a long fenestrated vent, but when I do any furniture building/re-modeling I wear a heavy stoma cover snugly fitted and over that the standard face mask for nose and mouth but put it over the stoma area. I only have hand tools in the apartment, but the power sander specially generates a ton of sawdust and it gets everywhere in the place. But not in the stoma. I have never seen any evidence in that area.
John S.—Class of ‘05


4. As I have written in the recent past, I have been searching for a respirator that would work for us neck breathers. Well, I have found one that seems to do more than I need and is at a reasonable price. It is a Triton Powered Respirator - Model # PRA001. It cost me $ 179.99 at Amazon.com.

It has a belt held filter/blower unit that is charged by rechargeable batteries. It says it runs for over 4 hours per charge. It has a combined approved hard hat, face shield and ear muffs unit that is attached to a nylon protective shroud that hangs down around your neck and upper chest - covering your stoma. Filtered air is pumped in through the belt pack, via a hose into the back of the helmet. The air is forced into the helmet/shroud providing filtered air to your face and stoma. You can flip up the face shield, but it must be closed to function properly. You can use the ear muffs, or they can be kept open to allow you to hear.

This unit says it is not designed for poison, flammable gas, explosive dusts or chemical vapor protection. It is designed for protection from mechanically and thermally generated particulates as would be found in such things as wood working, metal work, and welding.
Lanny K.


5. A Turtle Neck makes a nice seal around the top of the neck.

6. You might try the inexpensive, throw-away, painter's filters. You will have to trim them. I found cutting the top part of the circle straight across allowed me to lay it over my stoma, but the rubber band they have is useless for us. I tried stapling on a piece of cord at each upper corner and it fits nicely around the bottom of the curve but if you want a better seal, which is a good idea when you are kicking up some dust, use a few short pieces of tape to hold it in place. You can breath through this easily, dampen it to catch fine dust, and toss it when you are through. (Pat Sanders)

 

 

TAKE CARE OF YOUR "911" NEEDS


After reading several suggestions about contacting the local "911" dispatcher regarding my "condition" as a laryngectomee, I recently decided to do so. I felt this especially important, given that I, like many laryngectomees, live alone, AND, it occurred to me that perhaps a situation could arise wherein I would need "911" assistance, but would be unable, for some reason, to actually SPEAK.

First, since I was not really SURE where my local "911" dispatcher was, I called "911" to get the correct office address. I then drove over and popped in for a visit. They could not have been nicer! I explained my "problem" (being a laryngectomee and a "neck-breather") and asked THEM what information THEY would like to have on hand should I ever call them and be unable to speak. They happily provided me with a short list with which I returned home to complete. The following day I returned to their office with the information which they promptly added to their computer system AND to a back-up Rolodex system. They asked me to go back home, wait an hour or so, and then call them to "test" them ... so that I would know that the "system" was up and running as it should be. I did this and, predictably, it worked just fine.

So, now, if I call "911" and am unable to speak, the dispatcher now has immediate access to the following information on me:

(1) Name, Address, Telephone Number, DOB, and that I live alone.
(2) That I am a laryngectomee (no vocal cords), speak via a voice prosthesis, am a total neck breather, have had a single coronary bypass operation, and have O Negative blood type.
(3) Name, Address, & Phone of two emergency contact persons. (An out-of-state primary family contact and one local good friend.)
(4) Name, Address, & Phone of my Primary Physician & ENT.
(5) Listing of the medications that I take daily.
(6) Preferred local hospital for Emergency Care.
(7) Name & Phone of my Medical Insurance Carrier.
(8) My Medic-Alert ID Number they can use to contact Medic-Alert. (I wear a Medic-Alert ID bracelet.)

Needless to say, the experience was painless, short, and, I must admit, LONG OVERDUE. I certainly feel a lot better now about calling "911" if necessary. That I would recommend that ALL of us do this or something similar is a clear understatement. While I am sure each "911" office may have its own unique preference for what information they would like to have, taking the time to provide it would seem well worth the effort and would be a significant contribution to your own "peace of mind." (Dutch Helms)

 

 

Prior Preparation & Education Can Save Lives

 

December 1995, Nancy had a laryngectomy after they discovered cancer of the esophagus and voice box (larynx). She had radiation afterwards in an effort to keep the cancer from spreading and encountered other struggles but she was a brave woman and learned to adapt. In 2005, we moved to Missouri and were comforted to know there was a hospital nearby but we later found the hospital was not familiar with, nor equipped to handle, laryngectomees.

 

The local emergency personnel were unfamiliar with treating people in her situation and did not have the correct supplies. In the end, Nancy died at the hands of uneducated health care workers who were under trained and ill equipped to take care of a laryngectomee. There was confusion about how to give her oxygen. The nurses who treated her were not familiar with the need for suctioning a laryngectomee patient after administering saline solution to loosen the phlegm.

 

I beg all laryngectomees to take the time to educate their local emergency workers and to let them know where you live. It is difficult, if not impossible, to explain these things when an emergency takes place so please educate them before then.  Write up something for them to quickly read in case they come to your house and are new on the job, as personnel changes happen frequently. Have your number and address flagged so that if you call and can't speak, they will know there is an emergency.

 

Please help to spread the word and knowledge concerning laryngectomy patients. Lives depend on it. Please email if you have any questions or suggestions on getting the word out.

 

Lisa Mcintosh
tweedindeed@aol.com

In Memory of Nancy Ann Schilz.
9/14/45 to 1/19/06

 

 

 

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