Ski pads/mats and Albacmat use

[dar1]

Hello All,

I was hoping to get some opinion on the use of the above please in relation to evacuation from an upper floor and in particular:

- What settings/situations you have seen them used i.e. have they tended to be restricted just to care homes and hospitals?
- Their limitations e.g. ease of use (number of people and training needed), implications for people with different health issues e.g. spinal problems, fragile bones etc
- Conditions in which they cannot be used e.g. steep or narrow staircases, sharp turns etc
- Whether you have known them to be used as an alternative to evac chairs in situations where evac chairs cannot be used
- Whether are seen as an acceptable means of escape, as an evac chair is now largely seen to be (while accepting a proper fire evac lift is the ultimate goal)

Your thoguhts would be very welcome.

Many thanks

[Midland Retty]

Hi Dar1

It all depends on the type and layout of the premises.

Here are some considerations:-

- How many casualties would need to be evacuated using this method?

- Would you have sufficent staff and resouces available in a fire situation to secure the casualty onto an evacuation aid and then drag it?

- Is there adequate compartmentation and means of escape to allow staff time to secure the casualty in the mat and evacuate?

- How much training / time is required to put the mat into operation! Are staff going to be able to use them easily or are there manual handling implications?

- Think about floor coverings and terrain - i.e do you have thick carpets or lino? Is there anything that could make dragging the mat difficult? do you have narrow pasageways or staicases? turns or bends?

- Is the mat suitable for all casualties? As you already asked would it be suitable for casulties with chronic spinal injuries or conditions?

By far the best thing to do would be to actually try the product for yourself ! Why not ask a rep from Albac to visit you with a sample product so that you can look at it, prod it, poke it, ask questions, try it out  - get a feel for the equipment and how it would work in your particular work environment.

Ive not actually seen the Ablacmat used during live training but I have seen similar products tested in realistic drills / scenarios.

Generally they seem ok, tight turns etc can present a problem, but a standard width staircase was easily traversed. The casualty was secured failry quickly to the mat and required two people to drag it when the casualty was in place, it could be taken down the stairs and didn't give the "patient" too much discomfort. Staff didn't struggle trying to drag it etc but it again the floor covering was linoleum.

[dar1]

Many thanks for your response, all very useful information and a demo is a particuarly good suggestion although some of the companies I have tried don't seem to travel unfortuantely.

The thing I was hoping to get an idea of as well was whether these are seen as a viable alternative to an evac chair where an evac chair cannot be used and if the considerations can be satisified you mention i.e. adequate compartmentation etc, could the mat be used as the sole means of evacuation. 

My concern here again would be that the evacuation plans for those requiring additional assistance would still need to reflect the fact that the mat still wouldn't necessarily enable access to all (though I guess this is the same for an evac chair) and that its use would need to be carefully explained to those accessing an upper area. 

Thanks again for your help.

[wee brian]

So what kind of premises are you looking at.

I wouldn't use pads&mats unlees I was dealing with people in bed.

[jayjay]

I have a school for disabled children I look after (would you belive this is of three floors) they had evac chairs but due to the disabilities some children could not transfer.

They have now installed the mats/pads which they find better to use and the training is easier. The staff are well trained in patient handling and they much prefer them to the Evac chair. Not sure of the name of the equipment but if more details are needed I can obtain it.

[wee brian]

cool.  learn a new thing every day

[Geoff]

HI,

We use Albac mats (both versions) in all our Care/Nursing Homes and homes for people with learning difficulties. They work great, most of the service users feel much more secure when we have had to use them and the construction is such that any force from bumps, etc, are defelected away from the person in the mat.

I had a go myself once and the person lowereing me down the stairs let go and I went all the way down the flight.  Better than an rollercoaster and hardly felt a thing.

Geoff