Every carer remembers those first few shifts. You're desperate to do a good job, terrified of making a mistake, and hoping the client doesn't notice you're mentally trying to remember where everything lives.

Then comes the inevitable moment.

"Is this the suction machine you're after?"

"No... that's the CPAP."

It's funny now, but most experienced carers can remember a similar mix-up. To someone new, a client's room can look like an intensive care unit. Suction machines, cough assist devices, feeding pumps, pressure cushions, hoists, leg bags, ventilators... it's a world that doesn't exist in everyday life. And, until you've been shown properly, it's easy to confuse one piece of equipment for another.

The good news? Every confident carer was once the nervous beginner asking questions. The difference is training.

Good training gives carers the confidence to recognise equipment, understand what it does, and know when it's needed. It replaces guesswork with knowledge, awkward moments with confidence, and helps build trust between carer and client far more quickly.

At Fellow Carer, our spinal injuries training is designed for individuals, care agencies and hospitals. We don't just explain what the equipment is—we explain why it's there, when it's used, and how it fits into everyday life with a spinal injury. Because confidence comes from understanding, not from hoping you've picked the right machine.

After all, everyone starts somewhere... it's just preferable if your first introduction to a suction machine isn't while pointing confidently at the CPAP machine.

Marc Francis
Cartoonist | SCI Trainer

Question:
What's the funniest misunderstanding you've ever had during your first days in a new job—or as a new carer? We'd love to hear your stories in the comments.