Care Home evacuation aids for bedridden people

[kurnal]

I have usually recommended the use of ski sheets or similar to assist in the rapid evacuation of bedridden people in an emergency. But I am finding that for clinical reasons more and more care homes are having to change to air mattresses which lose all of their shape and protection on deflation. Ski sheets and mattress straps are useless on these mattresses and create a greater hindrance and risk than a simple blanket lift.

I am aware of devices such as the albacmat but the person has to be transferred from their bed into the device further slowing the evacuation and every transfer puts a greater strain on staff and takes more time.

Anyone out there found a solution to this?

[Midland Retty]

I have usually recommended the use of ski sheets or similar to assist in the rapid evacuation of bedridden people in an emergency. But I am finding that for clinical reasons more and more care homes are having to change to air mattresses which lose all of their shape and protection on deflation. Ski sheets and mattress straps are useless on these mattresses and create a greater hindrance and risk than a simple blanket lift.

When you say ski sheets are useless - what exactly is the issue? I presume too little cushioning on deflation? cant tighten straps up sufficiently when matress is deflated?

[nearlythere]

Being a supplier in NI for a particular range of evacuation aids I have provided training in this area and have some practical experience in their use.
I have found the mattress ski sheet to be a bit of a problem on staircases when the lack of friction results in the mattress being difficult to stop from running away.
The Albamat is narrow and can take time to strap persons in. The guinea pigs also had concerns with a lack of stability and found it uncomfortable. It has it's place but to my mind not for Residential/ Nursing Homes.  
By far the best is the Ski Pad. This is a 50mm thick foam mattress type where the person is belted in with 2 or 3 straps depending on the model. This can be done on or off the bed and quite quickly. I have been moved down a stairs in one and it feels very comfortable and stable. Despite there being good friction between it and the stair (it has to be pulled down the stair so little chance of surfing out the landing window) it is relatively easy to pull someone of average size along a floor in it.
I am over 16st and two ladies could handle me quite well.(shut up).
If you want more info PM me.

[Midland Retty]

I was going to suggest the ski pads, but from what Kurnal has said Im not sure they would be any better than the ski sheets - the pads give better cushioning so if thats the only issue then no probs but he also mentioned the matress losing its shape too

[kurnal]

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When you say ski sheets are useless - what exactly is the issue? I presume too little cushioning on deflation? cant tighten straps up sufficiently when matress is deflated?

With the traditional ski sheet the system relies on the cocoon effect of the matress as it curls upwards at each side as you tighten the strapes. This has the effect of raising the straps off the patients chest and abdomen otherwise there would be intolerable pressure. with a normal mattress all that is needed is a bit of padding but with a deflating air mattress all this protection from the straps is lost.

As the mattrss deflates there is no protection below either for bumps and steps etc

With a conventional mattress the cocoon effect also gives the mattress some torsional rigidity for easy handling and protection against bending- for example as the  mattress is pulled off the bed - with an air mattress the carers have to lift it off the bed rather than dragging as they would a conventional type.

Also with an air mattress as they pass through doors there is no protection to stop the door banging onto the side of the patient. All in all no good at all for use on air mattresses.

[Midland Retty]

Im slightly confused when you say the mattress deflates...

Most of the medical air mattresses I've seen have some form of one-way valve in case a power failure takes out the pump, thus preventing deflation.

The valve can also be capped during the "transportation" of patients via stretcher.

Most of the manufacturers Ive spoken to in the past claim their mattresses are compatible with the majority of under mattress evacuation aids...

If yours doesn't then there is nothing I know of which would help your situation and you would have to look at transferring the paient onto a separate evacuation aid.

[kurnal]

Thanks Retty I will check to see if there is an alternative solution. The air mattresses at several homes I have worked with are all equipped with pull off hoses without any one way valves. But it might well be that the staff are not aware of correct procedures. I have been relying on their advice on how to set up the mattress- but its probably the blind leading the visually impaired. Will look into it further.