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A trach care kit is the set of spare tubes, ties, suction items and small supplies that travels with a person who has a tracheostomy, so that a blocked or dislodged tube can be handled quickly. This page compares two published pediatric emergency-kit lists, from SickKids (Toronto) and Alberta Health Services, and shows where they agree and differ. It is general product information, not medical advice: the tube type, sizes and contents of any real kit are set by the person’s own care team.
Purpose and setting
Both sources describe the kit as an emergency kit kept with the person at all times. SickKids states it goes “wherever they go”, and that more than one kit (for example stroller, car and bedroom) is acceptable. For the tube itself, see what a tracheostomy tube is and tracheostomy tube sizes. A tracheostomy tube and cuff is regulated in the United States as a Class II device under 21 CFR 868.5800 (eCFR, read 2026-11-07).
Checklist: emergency go-kit contents
Items below are named in the cited lists. Quantities are given only where a source gives them; otherwise the care team decides.
| Item | Quantity guidance | Why it is listed | SickKids | Alberta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spare tube, same size as current, with ties and obturator | Alberta: 2 extra tubes in total | Spare tube; both lists include it | Yes | Yes |
| Spare tube one size smaller, with ties and obturator | As ordered by care team | Both lists specify one size smaller | Yes (small, well-labelled clear bag) | Yes |
| Suction catheters that fit both tube sizes | Alberta: 2 | Listed in both kits | Yes | Yes |
| Normal saline (nebules or syringes) | Not stated | Listed in both kits | Nebules | Sterile syringes |
| Water-soluble lubricant | Not stated | Listed in both kits | Yes | Yes |
| Round-ended (blunt) scissors | Not stated | Listed in both kits | Yes | Scissors and tweezers/forceps |
| Manual suction backup | Not stated | Backup to the suction machine | 20 mL syringe with feeding tube sized to the catheter | “Manual suction” |
| Manual resuscitation bag with connector and mask | Not stated | Listed in both sources | In the tube-change extras | Yes (“bagger”) |
| Gloves, hand sanitizer, barrier device | Not stated | Listed by Alberta | Not listed | Yes |
| Gauze (trach gauze or pre-cut) | Not stated | Listed in both sources | Yes | Dressings kept nearby |
| Spare HMEs / adjuncts | Not stated | Listed in both sources | Yes | HME kept nearby |
Cuffed tubes
SickKids adds a syringe, a small cup and, if the cuff is water-filled, a sterile water nebule for cuffed tubes. A spare obturator, a spare inner cannula (for adult-size tubes), cotton swabs and extra gauze are listed as items a person “may also need”. SickKids says wire cutters are only needed with beaded ties, and that beaded ties are not recommended.
Keep near: supplies beyond the go-kit
Alberta Health Services separates items kept near the person from the kit that is carried: a charged suction machine with charger, canisters, tubing, water and rinse cups (see portable suction machines); alcohol swabs; dressings (tracheostomy dressings); cotton-tipped applicators; an HME; paper copies of tracheostomy information and emergency instructions; contacts; and a working phone. For ventilator users it lists a charger, spare circuits, connectors, filters, an exhalation valve, written settings and a second ventilator. SickKids lists daily-cleaning items separately: saline and sterile water nebules, saline-soaked swabs or gauze, dry gauze, wet and dry facecloths and a disposal tray.
What the common terms mean
Trach ties and tube holders
Ties secure the tube at the neck. Both lists include prepared ties with each spare tube. Collars and holders are covered in tracheostomy collars. Suction catheters and the 20 mL-syringe backup are the suction items in these lists.
Trach button, trach plug and caps
These terms appear in supplier catalogues but are not part of either emergency-kit list above. Whether and how they are used is a decision for the care team; see tracheostomy caps.
What varies by facility type and person
The lists differ in detail. Alberta names two suction catheters and a barrier device; SickKids adds nebules, gauze and the manual-suction syringe. Both say “one size smaller” for the second tube, while other lists may say half a size, so the care team’s order governs. SickKids notes that 2.5 mm is the smallest tube size and that the team advises on sizes. Cuffed or uncuffed tubes, ventilator use and age change the contents.
Storage, expiry and restocking
SickKids says to check the kit daily and after each tube change, with a checklist attached to the box; replace expired items; and confirm tubes are not broken, discolored or overused and that the obturator slides in and out with ease. It gives no fixed replacement schedule. Alberta Health Services does not state a check frequency.
Standards that apply
The only regulatory citation used here is 21 CFR 868.5800, which defines a tracheostomy tube and tube cuff as a device intended to be placed into a surgical opening of the trachea, and classifies it as Class II (eCFR, read 2026-11-07).
FAQ
What is in a trach care kit?
Per SickKids and Alberta Health Services: spare tubes (current size and one size smaller) with ties and obturators, suction catheters, saline, lubricant, blunt scissors, a manual resuscitation bag and a manual-suction backup.
How often should the kit be checked?
SickKids: daily and after each tube change, replacing expired items. Alberta gives no frequency.
Who decides sizes and quantities?
The person’s tracheostomy care team. The sources give few quantities.
Is a trach suction kit the same as an emergency kit?
Not in these sources: suction catheters are one item in the emergency kit, while the suction machine is listed among supplies kept nearby.
Sources
- SickKids AboutKidsHealth, “The emergency tracheostomy kit”: https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/the-emergency-tracheostomy-kit (read 2026-11-07)
- Alberta Health Services, “Pediatric Tracheostomy: Emergencies”: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/pediatric-tracheostomy/emergencies (read 2026-11-07)
- eCFR, 21 CFR 868.5800: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/part-868/section-868.5800 (read 2026-11-07)
