Simple communicators are devices that create speech in a way that reproduces recorded messages. Depending on the type of communicator, several messages on multiple levels can be recorded on them, thus enabling the use of several different communication templates, depending on the topic of the conversation.
Our goal is for children with communication difficulties to use simple communicators every day in order to develop communication, cognitive and social skills. Since we want children to use them as often as possible, there is a high probability that they will get dirty somewhere.
The AbleNet company has created short instructions for all users of its communicators on how to thoroughly clean and disinfect them so that they can use them smoothly and safely. We have translated the instructions into Croatian, and all of the above can be used to maintain other simple communicators.
Tips for maintaining simple communicators
Cleaning and disinfecting your communication device, between uses, is very important for the health and safety of the user. To help you fight bacteria, we bring you some useful tips on how to clean and disinfect your device.
When cleaning, always use appropriate protective equipment, such as rubber gloves and safety glasses.
Cleaning the device
Thoroughly clean any form of dirt from the device before disinfection.
- Turn off the device and remove the batteries.
- Remove visible crumbs or larger pieces of dirt from the device.
- Wipe the device with cleaning wipes.
- Lightly wet the cotton cloth (ear stick or pads) with a cleaning liquid (e.g. dishwashing detergent) and clean the dirt that the wipes could not clean.
- Allow the device to dry completely.
Disinfecting the device
After you have thoroughly cleaned and dried your device, it is time to disinfect it.
You may need to change your gloves before the disinfection process to avoid accidentally transferring bits of dirt back to the device.
- Make sure your device is still turned off and there are no batteries in it.
- On a clean cloth or paper towel, put a small amount of an agent that has bactericidal, tuberculocidal, fungicidal and virucidal effects (for example, some of the alcohol antiseptics that you can get at the pharmacy) in order to disinfect the surface of the device. It is important to know that such agents work only when they are wet and should be left on the device for a minimum of 4 minutes.
- Soak the ear stick in the same solution to disinfect the narrow areas of the device that you could not clean with a cloth or towel. Leave the moist product on the device for a minimum of 4 minutes.
- Allow the device to air dry completely.
- If your device has a touch screen, use LCD screen cleaner to remove possible stains before use.
