Have you got plans for Red Nose Day?

With Comic Relief Red Nose Day taking place on Friday 15th March, people across the country will come together to take part in a whole host of events which will ultimately contribute to one thing: supporting vulnerable people and communities across the UK and the rest of the world.

You may be thinking of getting involved too and the last thing you want to be worrying about is the security of your stoma bag.

Whether you’re dressing up with friends for a sponsored run, hosting your very own bake sale or doing something a little more daring, we’ve put together some quick tips to help you feel comfortable that your bag is as secure from leaks as possible. So all you’ll need to worry about is enjoying your chosen event!

Find a bag that works for you

This might seem like such an obvious piece of advice, however, it’s important that you are using stoma bags that are well-suited to you. As you know, people come in different shapes, sizes, and are good at different things. The same goes for your bag. If you’re unsure about which product best suits you, you can ask your healthcare professional or contact one of our  GoldCare Nurses, who will be happy to offer their professional advice.

Take good care of the skin around your stoma

Even if you’re not taking part in strenuous activities, we would always recommend that you take good care of the skin area around your stoma. Your stoma nurse will be able to advise on some of the best steps to take to look after stoma skin.

Making sure that you keep on top of your health in this area will help to prevent any unwanted leakages when you’re trying to enjoy yourself because healthy skin quite simply helps your bag to stick better. If you want any additional advice on how to protect the skin around your stoma, you can contact one of our GoldCare Nurses who will be happy to help.

Be sure to change your stoma bag regularly

Whether you’ve been exercising or not, it’s always a good idea to try and change your stoma bag as regularly as is possible, within reason, of course! Not only can this help to reduce the chances of any leakages, but it will also help to make you feel much more comfortable when taking part in your Red Nose Day festivities.

What should you wear?

You’re probably already aware, but it’s worth remembering; your choice of clothing can make a difference to the amount of support that your stoma bag is given. For example, if you’re taking part in an activity that might require moving around more than usual, why not try wearing a pair of running trousers? The extra compression that they offer can help to increase bag security, lower the chance of leakages and let you get on with what you enjoy doing!

If you have any questions at all don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of the team or speak to one of our GoldCare Nurses.

We hope that you make the most of this Red Nose Day and have plenty of fun!