Keeping things in order

Maintaining the lifeline

Philadelphia (April 21, 2003) - After learning how to use CPAP or BiPAP equipment, many people are never given information about the way to maintain the equipment, including simple preventative maintenance.

Lawrence Wright, a respiratory therapist with more than 30 years background in the healthcare profession, will address the Awake In Philly group on "Maintaining the Lifeline" on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Conference Room at the Northeast Regional Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, 2228 Cottman Avenue.

During his presentation, Lawrence will touch on several points, including:

• General cleaning tips for CPAP or BiPAP machines
• CPAP or BiPAP machine pressure check
• Inspecting your equipment
• Importance of preventative maintenance

For the past four years, Lawrence has been the homecare account manager for Puritan-Bennett, division of Tyco Healthcare, will show a sampling of new equipment at the meeting.

Lawrence said he will be demonstrating the Breeze nasal pillows, as well as a couple of new xPAP machines, namely the GoodKnight^® 420 Nasal CPAP and the KnightStar^® 330 Bi-Level, both from Puritan-Bennett.

For more than 25 years, Lawrence worked as a respiratory therapist in the hospital setting. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, holding a degree in respiratory therapy.

Sleep disorders, which contribute to the national sleep debt, are more prevalent than most people believe. In fact, it's estimated that approximately one in every five people suffers from at least one sleep disorder. Sleep apnea, narcolepsy, periodic leg movements, and insomnia are just a few of the many sleep disorders that can, and do, rob us of the sleep we need.

The impact of sleep disorders, especially apnea, on a person’s life may be many, and appear in many forms, but there are some telltale signs. While the impact is unique in each person, some of the most common areas include causing excessive daytime sleepiness, heart and lung damage, greater risk of stroke and high blood pressure, memory loss, the potential for greater involvement in traffic accidents because of tiredness, sexual dysfunction, mood swings, a decrease in productivity, weight gain, among others.

A Control 3 Home Care Kit, from Maril Products, will be given away at the meeting. Maril Products donated the Home Care Kit to Awake In Philly for giveaway at the meeting. See the rules for all details.

Awake In Philly sponsors, in alphabetical order, include B.F. Ascher & Co., Inc.; Fisher and Paykel; the Free Library of Phila. (NE Regional Library); Maril Products, makers of Control III Disinfectant; Puritan-Bennett; and Respironics, Inc.

The Northeast Regional Library is conveniently located on several SEPTA bus routes, as well as being conveniently located near a SEPTA train station. For public transportation to the Northeast Regional Library, please call SEPTA at 215-580-7800 or visit the SEPTA website at http://www.septa.org.

The Northeast Regional Library is about one-half mile northwest of Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard, and may be contacted at 215-685-0501. Driving directions to the library may be accessed on the Awake In Philly site at http://www.AwakeInPhilly.org/Meetings/NERL.shtml.

Awake In Philly meetings are designed to offer support to anyone who must deal with the impact of sleep disorders, including the patient, the spouse, a co-worker or supervisor, researchers, physicians, attorneys, among others. Everyone is encouraged to attend the meetings.

Contact Dave Jackson at:
PhillyAwake@scoop0901.net