The recent fire the the Royal Marsden raises some important points for consideration. Many of the patients were able to walk off the Wards, very few had to be assisted and the fire was on top floors and not a lower level which no doubt assisted the rescue.
After a risk assesment was carried out on a Ward in the Hospital where I work, it became obvious that several Patients would be very difficult to remove to a safe area, especially if the situation called for a vertical evacuation, for example, the lifts being inoperative due to a fire. I was asked to design equipment that allows for the safe removal of immobile patients either off the Ward and/or down the fire stairs.
The unit sits under the mattress on the bed and will articulate with the bed when in daily use. When opererated, it becomes a rigid stretcher to faciliitate the removal of all immobile patients that can be manually lifted.
We have produced a pre-production model to go into trial in the next week or so (Jan 2008) and are looking to put on the market as soon as we have concluded our trials.
If any need more info, please get in touch.
Kev.
