Who Summer's Lifeguard for?
Summer’s Lifeguard is for young, critically-ill or chronically-ill children, with surgically implanted central venous catheters or portacaths in the chest.
What is Summer’s Lifeguard?
Summer’s Lifeguard is a soft-comfortable medical garment for children with a chest-located central venous catheter or a portacath design to prevent the child from tampering with the lines, protect the surgical site and support the lines from the surgical site, while providing comfort to the child.
What colors and patterns do you offer?
We offer a cream, pink and blue version of the central line/port wrap.
Can Summer's Lifeguard™ be worn while in the hospital?
We absolutely suggest that your child wear the garment in the hospital or at home, while the central venous catheter is surgically implanted in the chest.
What is a Central Venous Catheter?
In medicine, a central venous catheter (CVC) is used for the administration of chemotherapy, antibiotics, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and blood sampling in patients with Cancer, Gastroenterology, Cardiology diseases or who require transplant. The tunneled catheter is implanted in the chest wall and the lines from the catheter site often times hang in the diaper area, or are within reach of tiny hands or mouths. The heavy lines pull on their tender skin on their chest.
My child has a port, should he/she use Summer’s Lifeguard?
For children with ports, they can wear Summer’s Lifeguard, when the port is being accessed.
My child has a GI-Tube and a Central Venous Catheter, should he/she use
Summer’s Lifeguard?
For children with GI-tubes or G-Buttons and a Central Venous Catheter, they could benefit from use of Summer’s Lifeguard to prevent tampering with the lines.
What is a Port-a-Cath?
The term portacath is a portmanteau of "portal" and "catheter". Port-a-Cath is a brand name; others include Microport, Bardport, PowerPort (power injectable), Passport, Infuse-a-Port, Medi-Port, and Lifesite
(for hemodialysis patients). The term totally implantable venous access system (TIVAS) is also used.
Additionally, portacaths are a form of a "central venous access device" and are frequently referred to as such
in the medical field.
How does a Port work?
A port consists of a reservoir compartment (the portal) that has a silicone bubble for needle insertion (the septum), with an attached plastic tube (the catheter). The device is surgically inserted under the skin in the upper chest or in the arm and appears as a bump under the skin. It requires no special maintenance and is completely internal so swimming and bathing are not a problem. The catheter runs from the portal and is surgically inserted into a vein (usually the jugular vein, subclavian vein, or superior vena cava). Ideally, the catheter terminates in the superior vena cava, just upstream of the right atrium. This position allows infused agents to be spread throughout the body quickly and efficiently.
The septum is made of a special self-sealing silicone rubber; it can be punctured hundreds of times before it weakens significantly. To administer treatment or to withdraw blood, a health professional will first locate the port and disinfect the area. Then he or she will access the port by puncturing the overlying skin with a 90° Huber point needle although a Butterfly needle may also be used. (Due to its design, there is a very low infection risk, as the breach of skin integrity is never larger than the caliber of the needle. This gives it an advantage over indwelling lines such as the Hickman line.) Negative pressure is created to withdraw blood into the vacuumized needle, to check for blood return and see if the port is functioning normally. Next, the port will be flushed with a saline solution. Then, treatment will begin. After each use, a heparin lock is made by injecting a small amount of heparinized saline (an anticoagulant) into the device. This prevents development of clots within the port or catheter. In some catheter designs where there is a self-sealing valve at the far end, the system is locked with just saline. The port can be left accessed for as long as required. The port is covered in a dressing to protect the site from infection and to secure the needle in position.
The surgery itself is considered minor, and is typically performed under both local anaesthesia and conscious sedation. Patients sometimes have a little discomfort after the procedure, and can be managed with a narcotic, such as demerol for 24–48 hours.
A port is most commonly inserted as a day surgery procedure in a hospital or clinic by a surgeon or an interventional radiologist, under conscious sedation. When no longer needed, the port can be removed
in the operating room.
Do you offer anything for older children, men or women?
Not at this time.
Can clothing be worn over Summer's Lifeguard?
Yes, the garment was designed so that clothing can be worn by child. We recommend dressing the child in a shirt size larger with the wrap on.
Can the wrap be worn by more than one child?
No, the wrap is a single patient use item only.
How many sizes are offered and what do they correlate to, in standard sizing?
The wrap comes in three sizes. To determine the correct size, measure the circumference of your child's chest across the nipples to determine chest size. Chest sizes are 16" - 18", 19" - 22" and 23" - 25".
What if the wrap I purchase doesn't fit?
Siya, Inc.'s primary goal is our customer's satisfaction. We want you to be happy and comfortable with your purchase from us. If for any reason you are disappointed in your Summer's Lifeguard, please contact us directly at 1 + 866 + 219 + 3113 or at info@summerslifeguard.com and we will do whatever we can to satisfy you. Siya, Inc. thrives on our customer's happiness and comfort.
What is the fabric used in the construction of Summer's Lifeguard?
The garment is made of 100% cotton.
What are the care instructions for the garment?
Machine wash cool. Tumble dry low.
What are your shipping options?
We ship using UPS. Shipping is $12 and takes approximately 2 - 4 days, excluding Saturday and Sunday.
Is this device cleared by the FDA?
Yes, Summer’s Lifeguard is cleared by the FDA as a Class I exempt medical device. Please email or call
us with any other questions. To view our shipping & ordering polices click here.