South West Regional Wound Care Toolkit - Self-Care Teaching Handout: My Hemovac Drain Care. September 2012. Photographs courtesy ET

nurses at LHSC, used with permission. Adapted from http://www.stjohnprovidence.org/InnerPage.aspx?PageID=4388

Name:__________________________________ Date:_____________________

I need to empty my Hemovac Drain : ____ x per 24 hours or whenever it is fully expanded.

1. Wash your hands thoroughly before emptying your drain(s).

2. Have a small plastic measuring cup ready to collect and measure the

drainage.

3. Remove the pin from your clothing that holds the drain.

4. Remove the stopper or plug. The Hemovac drain will expand.

5. Do NOT let the drain opening or stopper touch anything. If they do, clean

with alcohol.

6. Pour all of the liquid from the drain into the measuring cup. You may need

to turn it over 2 or 3 times to get it all out (b).

7. Place the Hemovac drain on a clean, flat surface. Press down on it with 1

hand until the drainage container is flat. Do not touch the stopper or drain

with your hand.

8. While holding it flat, put the stopper back into the spout with the other

hand (c).

9. Pin the Hemovac drain back onto your clothes (d).

10. Please write down the amount of drainage each time you empty it.

11. If you have more than one drain, remember to record the drainage

from each drain separately.

12. Pin the drain back on your clothing to avoid pulling it out accidently.

13. Rinse the measuring cup with soap and water.

14. Wash your hands again.

15. Please call the nurse or doctor’s office if the output becomes thicker or has a bad odor

Stripping the Tube

Sometimes the drainage products will not flow out of the narrow tube and prevent proper

draining. If there is no drainage, then:

• Hold the tube near where it is inserted in to the skin with your one hand to steady it.

• Use the other hand to hold a pencil and gently squeeze the tubing with the pencil while

moving it down toward the drain away from your skin. This forces the thicker material

into the bulb for better drainage.

• Repeat if needed to start the device draining again.

Removal of the Tube

• The nurse or doctor will do this for you. Usually, the tube may be removed once a single

tube output is less than 30cc (1 oz.) in 24 hours, but your doctor will have written

instructions for the nurse about this.

South West Regional Wound Care Toolkit

My Hemovac Drain Self-Care Teaching Guide

a.

b.

c.

d.