HOME PRODUCTS RENTALS SERVICES COMPANY INFO Login Phone Map Now In-Stock! Masks, gloves, and infrared thermometers. Call us today at (866) 733-2282 Caring For Your Catheter Home Caring For Your Catheter How to Care For Your Foley Catheter Catheters are a common medical solution to problems with urination. Catheters drain urine from the bladder when a person can’t control their urine voluntarily. This may be due to conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, surgery, diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), or Parkinson’s disease. It can also be simply a matter of incontinence. For this type of daily short-term or long-term use, a Foley catheter is the typical solution. When you transition to using a catheter, your physician or nurse should explain in detail how to care for it and clean it. If any part of the process is unclear, you should talk to your healthcare professional for clarification. Keeping it clean is critical for your health. Here’s some information about how to care for your Foley catheter and keep it clean. If you have any catheter needs, or just need more information, please contact the experienced team at Americle Healthcare Inc. We’re in Millersville, Maryland, just off 97 between Baltimore and Washington D.C. Shop Catheters Contact Us How a Foley Catheter Works With a Foley catheter, there’s a thin, flexible tube placed in your bladder to drain urine. A tiny integrated balloon is filled with water to keep it in place and deflated when it needs to be removed. The catheter connects to a drainage tube which connects to a collection bag. During the day, the “leg bag” is attached to the lower leg via straps. At night, the “night bag” is placed off the body at the bedside, typically hanging from the edge of a wastebasket. In both cases, gravity is responsible for draining urine. The leg bag should be emptied every two to four hours via the spout at the bottom. The night bag can be emptied every morning. Cleaning Requirements All parts of the catheter setup should be cleaned regularly, with the exception of the end of the catheter itself. It should remain inserted during the cleaning process. Plan to empty and clean your drainage bags daily, and to wash the exterior of the drainage tube. Many people choose to do this in the shower. Do not take a bath with a Foley catheter inserted, because you risk getting a bladder infection. How to Clean Your Foley Catheter in the Shower Before getting started, wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Next, use mild soap to carefully and thoroughly clean your genital area, including your urethra (urinary opening). With one hand, hold the catheter in place and use the other hand to clean the exterior of the exposed catheter and the drainage tube. When you are out of the shower, attach a clean leg or night bag to the drainage tube. First, wipe both the end of the drainage tube and the connector on the bag with sterile alcohol pads How to Wash Your Drainage Bags Start by washing your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Next, rinse the bag with cool water. Fill it halfway with a mixture of one part white vinegar and three parts water. Shake the bag and let it sit. This will decrease odors. After 15 minutes, rinse the bag and hang it up to dry. If you have any questions about your catheter supplies, please contact our experienced and compassionate staff here at Americle Healthcare Inc. in Millersville, Maryland, between Baltimore and Washington D.C. Millersville, MD (410) 721-0958 Contact Americle Healthcare Inc. Please feel free to call us or stop into a location today! Contact Us Martinsburg, WV (410) 721-0958 Map & Hours (866) 733-2282 740A Generals Hwy, Millersville, MD 21108 © 2021 Americle Healthcare, Inc. - Powered by ARI Network Services - ARI Responsive Websites Home Products Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Accessibility Site Map