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    Emptying Your Urinary Catheter Bag

    Step-by-Step

    • Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

      1. Wash your hands.

    • Leg catheter bag fastened to lower leg, with bag half full of urine.

      2. Empty the catheter bag when it’s half full.

    • Hands detaching bottom leg strap from leg catheter bag that’s half full of urine.

      3. Detach the bottom leg strap to take the bag off.

    • Hands holding catheter bag half full of urine over toilet.

      4. Hold the bottom tube over the toilet.

    • Valve tip touching toilet seat and prohibition symbol with arrow pointing toward valve tip.

      5. Don’t touch the valve tip on the toilet rim.

    • One hand holding catheter bag half full of urine over toilet and other hand pulling out valve to open it.

      6. Open the valve.

    • Hands holding catheter bag over toilet with urine flowing into toilet.

      7. Empty the bag into the toilet.

    • One hand holding valve tip of empty catheter bag with other hand cleaning valve tip with alcohol wipe.

      8. Clean the valve tip with an alcohol wipe.

    • One hand holding empty catheter bag and other hand pushing in valve to close it.

      9. Close the valve.

    • Empty leg catheter bag on leg with hands fastening bottom leg strap.

      10. Put the bag on and fasten the bottom leg strap.

    • Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

      11. Wash your hands.

    © 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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    Southern New Mexico
    Surgery Center
    2301 Indian Wells Rd. Suite B
    Alamogordo, NM 88310
    www.snmsc.org

    Phone: 575.437.0890
    Fax: 575.437.0905
    Email: info@snmsc.org

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