August can be one of the hottest and humid months of the year so many of your patients have probably stocked up on the popular Dry-Briks used with the Dry & Store Professional, Global, and Zephyr models. There has been a recent design change you should be aware of and pass on to your patients so they aren’t surprised or confused the next time they swap out their Dry-Brik.
As shown on the right, removing the foil cover of the now old Dry-Brik revealed a time strip. It was necessary to press firmly on the bubble located near the center of the desiccant to activate the time strip. Once the time strip was activated, it progressively changed from white to red. At about two months, the entire time strip would be red, indicating that it was time to replace the desiccant.
The new Dry-Brik seen on the left is no longer equipped with a time strip; it has been replaced with a basic label that allows the user to simply record the date of Dry-Brik activation. Keep in mind that the old Dry-Briks still work; the manufacturer has simply stopped producing desiccants with built-in time strips. Also, the general guidelines for Dry-Brik use have not changed. Dry-Briks should be replaced every two months; that is a small price to pay for protecting hearing instruments from excessive exposure to moisture. For additional product ideas designed protect hearing instruments from moisture damage, check out the Dog Days of Summer interview recently posted on AudiologyOnline.
AU,
I called Dry and Store two weeks ago and, right from the horses mouth as we say in Texas, their recommendation is to change every two months and there is no seasonal difference. What is the basis for your monthly recommendation?
Hope you are doing well.
Ross
Hi Ross:
I will check with Dry & Store and get back to you; the recommendation is based on information Oaktree Products has in their product training manuals compiled from information we have received directly from the vendor. Thanks for bringing this up and I will post a reply as soon as I get information right from the horses mouth. All is well. Hope the same goes for you. au
Hi Ross:
Following up on your question about changing the Dry Briks every 2 months. You are correct; the recommendation is for the Dry Brik to be changed out every two months without any special consideration for those living in hot and humid environments. I will update the blog to ensure accuracy of information. Thanks for bringing this up and giving me a chance to clarify. AU