Cough Assist

Tessa never used a cough assist machine. Before she received a trach, I would manually help her cough by manipulating her diaphragm– silimar to a Heimlich maneuver. There was some talk of her using a cough assist, but she already needed a ventilator, so I was her only cough assist machine.

Nevertheless, I am posting some video of others using the machine because I think it is informative. This woman is a beautiful example of how hard one has to fight.


This kid is great, too.




That instrument on the suction hose is called a Yankauer. It’s funny watching them place it so deeply into the mouth. Tessa hates that. If I put it even slightly past her lips, she will raise hell with me.

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