JP DRAIN CARE: 

You are being dismissed with JP drains to drain fluid out of your wound.  Keep the area around where the tube exits the skin dry and covered with a light dressing.  Change the dressing every day to keep the area around the tubes dry.  Pin the tubes to your clothing with a safety pin to prevent yourself from pulling the on the drains and accidentally removing them.  The drainage containers (bulbs) should be emptied when they become half full as they will not create suction when they become too full.  Keep the container (bulb) compressed at all times excepts when emptying it as compression creates the gentle suction.  You should gently "strip or milk" the tubing three times daily to remove any excess debris from clogging up the tubing.  Start toward the top of the tubing near the wound and work down toward the container (bulb). 

TO EMPTY THE CONTAINERS (BULBS):

1. Open the stopper to release the suction.

2. Holding the stopper out of the way, pour the fluid into the measuring cup provided to you.

3. Measure and record the amount. If you have two tubes, record the amount from tube #1 and tube #2.

4. Compress the container.

5. Replace the stopper.

6. Keep the tube taped to your skin.

7. Make sure the dressing is dry.

8. Pin the tube to your clothes.

SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IF:

1) Your drain out-put ceases.

2) You develop fever/chills.

3) You have pain, redness, swelling, or heat around the drain site.