Frigid temperatures are the normal in Iowa at this time of year, and maybe they are in your region too! If so, we have some helpful tips and tricks when it comes to storing your ultrasound machine in the upcoming colder months. Or maybe you are lucky enough to live in a region where it doesn’t get below freezing, and if that’s the case, we are jealous! But you can also apply these suggestions when you are giving your ultrasound a rest during your slow season.
Keep your ultrasound in a temperature-controlled area. Not in your truck during the freezing cold nights!
Make sure all pieces of the machine have been cleaned, and keep a probe cover on each and every probe!
Wipe down your machine with an ArmorAll wipe (yes, the ones used for your truck’s dashboard). This will put a waxy coat on your machine for another layer of protection and ease of cleaning in the future. Keep these wipes away from any of your monitor screens because they will leave a film.
Have your monitor charged and make sure the hard-power button is turned off.
Do not keep your ultrasound stored on the charger. Leaving it on the charger for long periods of time can reduce your battery’s life.
Make sure there are no kinks or sharp angles that could interfere with your machine’s probe cord.
When putting the ultrasound in the case, make sure everything is dry. The cases seal tightly which can retain moisture. Overtime, excess moisture and extreme temperature changes can cause corrosion to the mainboard. This is crucial in humid climates!
Do not set your monitor face down if you are keeping it on a surface that moves a lot. (AKA the vet box.) The vibrations can cause scratching.
Last but not least, don’t forget Hot Hands for those extremely cold days for you and your monitor. And a heated bucket to keep the manure from freezing to the probe and ReproArm.
We know that some of these are self-explanatory, but we’ve seen it all… If you have any other questions or concerns when it comes to storing your ultrasound machine for winter, please give us a call. We would love to help you make your ultrasound’s life last longer!