Abstract: A new and improved skin protection device helps maintain the fluid and mechanical interconnection between a tracheostomy tube and an associated ventilator tube coupler while simultaneously substantially spacing the skin engaging surface of the tracheostomy tube external housing from the neck skin of a patient user. The device includes a fabric covered U-shaped elastic cradle member that has an attachment arrangement to removably attach the device to the tracheostomy tube and space it from the skin of the patient A removably attachable cradle cover is provided for attachment to the cradle member between its spaced apart tracheostomy attachment arms so as to cover the mechanical interconnection between the tracheostomy tube housing and the ventilator tube coupler to help prevent the under chin neck skin of the patient from becoming pinched in the mechanically interconnection between the tracheostomy tube and the ventilator tube coupler.