Apnoea Alarm Information for parents and carers MR 10 Respiration Monitor - Apnoea Alarm Please read this leaflet carefully. Item 1. Hanging Loop 8. 10 second Apnoea alarm button 2. Alarm light (Red) 9. Reset button 3. 10 second breath light (Green) 10. Alarm sounder 4. 20 second breath light (Orange) 11. Low battery light (Orange) 5. OFF button 12. Respiration Sensor 6. Inlet socket 13. Sensor connector 7. 20 second Apnoea alarm button 14. Battery cover Page 1 of 6
SISS Baby Control About your Apnoea Alarm You have been given a respiration monitor because: Your baby may have a problem with breathing A previous problem in your family The alarm monitors your baby s breathing and sounds an alarm if he/she stops breathing for more than a set time. This stopping of breathing is called apnoea. The apnoea alarm should be set at 20 seconds. This is the time between breathing and the alarm sounding. *It is important to remember that the alarm does not stop an apnoea attack. The alarm uses a sensor, which is stuck to your baby s tummy with tape. This sends a signal to the monitor. The sensor is made of a soft plastic capsule filled with foam at one end of a plastic tube; the other end has a nozzle that plugs into the monitor. When your baby breathes your baby s tummy moves up and down. This squeezes a small amount of air through the tube into the monitor and makes a bleep flashing light. The alarm sounds if breathing is not detected for the set time. Test procedure To test the alarm, pull out the tube nozzle and after 20 seconds the alarm should sound and the red alarm light flash. Plug the tube nozzle in again and the alarm will stop sounding, but the light will continue to flash. It will stop flashing after one minute, but should be switched off by pressing the reset button to save battery life. The reset button cancels the alarm and restores the monitor to normal working. *Always test the alarm before use using the test procedure. Page 2 of 6
How to use your alarm 1. Before using, check the alarm as detailed in the test procedure. 2. Make sure baby s tummy is clean and dry. 3. Fix the sensor with 5cm wide hypo-allergenic tape as shown here. The best position is to either side of the lower tummy, below the naval. Make sure the tape is placed over both the capsule and the tube to prevent it kinking. Bring the tube downward between baby s legs so that it cannot get round baby s neck, legs or fingers. Clothing may be worn on top of sensor but make sure that the tubing is fed through the clothing between the legs. 4. Plug the sensors tube nozzle into the inlet socket of the monitor with a slight twisting action to make it secure. Do not apply excessive pressure. 5. Now switch on the monitor by pressing the ON 20 second button. The monitor will indicate a breath by a click. The breath light next to the ON 20 button will also flash with each breath taken by the baby. 6. To turn off the monitor hold down the off button until a bleep is heard. 7. When you are feeding or handling your baby remove the monitor at the nozzle end (remember to switch off) and tuck the sensor tube into your baby s clothing (it is exactly the right length to trip on). 8. Always connect the sensor to the monitor when you lay your baby down. 9. Change the tape when it is not sticking well and change the side of the tummy at this time. 10. Try to make the sensor last 2 weeks but if you have a lot of false alarms always change. Notes The click can be silenced by pressing the reset button and the ON 10 or 20 second button together. Breaths will continue to be indicated by the breath light. Restore the click by restoring the procedure. Babies breathing rates will change and this will cause a change in the rate of the bleep heard. Page 3 of 6
If the alarm sounds 1. Do not panic but go to your baby as quickly as possible. 2. If the audible alarm has stopped sounding but the alarm is still flashing, then baby has not taken a breath within the set time, but has taken a breath since the alarm sounded press the reset button to temporarily cancel the alarm light watch baby for a while. There is no need to worry unless the alarm goes off again. Check that a breath is indicated by a click and a light next to the selected apnoea interval. 3. If alarm is still sounding, stop it by pressing the reset button and look at baby. 4. If your baby is not breathing, carry out the resuscitation you have been taught. 5. If baby is a good colour and breathing but there are no breath signals from the monitor, then the system is not working. See possible faults and causes. Faults and possible causes No breath signals registering: a) Sensor may not be connected to the monitor. Make sure tube nozzle is firmly inserted into the socket. b) Sensor may be loose and not stuck to your baby s skin use fresh tape to attach to skin. c) If there are no breath signals with sensor, but one can be produced by tapping gently over the inlet socket (with monitor switched on) then sensor should be replaced. d) If there are no breath signals with a sensor, and one cannot be produced by tapping gently over inlet socket (with monitor switched on) then check the batteries are fitted properly and change if needed. If no cause can be found then the monitor may be faulty. Contact your local hospital. Battery replacement The life of batteries depends on how often the alarm sounds but should be changed about every three months. When the batteries are becoming low the battery light (Fig1/11) will flash in time with the breathing. The monitor will still work for 36 hours after the light appears. If this is ignored a continuous alarm will sound until the batteries are flat. Please keep four spare batteries at home. You should use alkaline batteries marked with the IEC Designation LR6, AA-Long Life. Cleaning The body of the unit should be wiped with a cloth lightly moistened with a disinfectant solution. The monitor has an annual service date on the monitor. Please contact 1 month prior to this date to change the monitor. Page 4 of 6
How to use your alarm Check alarm as detailed in test procedure. Secure Sensor Capsule as shown in Fig 2. Note position: Please make sure tube is down between baby s legs. Plug sensor tube nozzle (Fig 1/13) into inlet socket (Fig1/6) of monitor with a slight twisting action to make sure it is secure. Do not apply excessive pressure. Now switch on monitor by pressing the ON 20 second button. Monitor will indicate a breath by a click. Breath light next to the 20 second button will also flash with each breath taken by the baby. For further information and any questions contact: Ninewells Hospital Children s Outpatient Department Telephone: 01382 633862 9am 4pm Outwith these hours please contact: Ninewells Hospital Paediatric Unit Telephone: 01382 633829 Page 5 of 6
Assessment of Teaching, Care & Use of Apnoea Monitor How to use Alarm Positioning of Alarm Test procedure Faults and possible causes Discussed Demonstrated Practice Competent Doctor/Nurses Signature Parent/Carers Signature Review Developed by Tayside Children s Information Leaflet Group and has been reviewed by nursing and medical staff with help from families and carers. Reviewed: 08/2018 Review: 08/2020 LN0397 Page 6 of 6