Free Printable Trach and Airway Emergency Information Sheet

Who this trach and airway sheet helps

This sheet can help people who have a chronic tracheostomy, parents caring for a child with a trach, caregivers helping someone with airway equipment, people who use oxygen or suction, and families managing ventilator or respiratory equipment at home, school, during travel, or during care handoffs.

For a less airway-specific option, see the general emergency information sheet. Parents organizing broader medical needs may also want the medically complex child sheet.

Need a different airway-related sheet? See the laryngectomy / neck breather emergency information sheet.

Why this may matter in an emergency

Trach and airway details can be hard for a substitute caregiver, transport team, school contact, or family member to reconstruct from memory. The person may have supplies in one place, equipment contacts in another, and care instructions stored with home nursing notes or device paperwork.

A concise sheet can point trusted helpers toward the current airway status, backup supply location, equipment supplier, respiratory or ENT contacts, and care-plan documents without trying to teach trach care or emergency treatment.

Care-plan and document locations to note

Helpful details may include airway status, trach or backup trach information if listed in current records, oxygen or suction context, equipment and supply locations, DME company contacts, pulmonology, ENT, respiratory therapy, medication-list location, allergies, baseline breathing context, ventilator document location if used, and caregiver contacts. Keep ventilator information organization-only by pointing to clinician, respiratory therapy, or DME records instead of writing operating steps.

Where to keep it / when to update it

Keep a copy somewhere easy to find, such as with the emergency airway bag, near the bed, near suction equipment, in a caregiver binder, in a school or travel packet, with home nursing instructions, or with a trusted family member. A copy may also be useful for respite care, transport, appointments, or emergency planning.

Review it when trach type or size, backup trach size, cuff status, oxygen or suction context, ventilator or speaking-valve information, DME contacts, pulmonology or ENT contacts, medications, allergies, supply locations, or care-plan location changes.

Safety notes

Keep this page factual and organizational. Do not use it for trach care steps, suction technique, ventilator adjustments, oxygen changes, medication directions, or emergency-response instructions. If ventilator information is relevant, point to the current care plan, device paperwork, and care-team contact rather than rewriting operating details. Do not change ventilator, oxygen, or suction settings based on this sheet. Always follow the person's care plan and contact the care team or emergency services when there is a concern.

Trach words families may hear

Families and caregivers may hear words like tracheostomy, trach tube, stoma, inner cannula, obturator, cuff, pilot balloon, cuffed or cuffless tube, backup trach, suction, humidification, HME, oxygen, ventilator, ventilator plan location, speaking valve, Passy-Muir valve, trach ties, dressing, DME, ENT, pulmonology, respiratory therapist, speech-language pathologist, pulse oximeter, secretions, and emergency bag. The printable can point trusted helpers toward the terms, contacts, supply locations, and care-plan locations that apply to the person's actual care.