The NEW AirSlide: Solving another difficult moving and handling problem

Jan. 28, 2009 - PRLog -- Mangar International is launching its latest moving & handling product at this year’s Moving & Handling People Conference in London this month.  The AirSlide provides a solution to lateral transfers that are common procedure within a care or hospital setting. The number of times one patient is laterally transferred during hospital treatment can really mount up - stretcher to bed, bed to trolley, trolley to MRI machine, MRI machine back to trolley, and so on. Although manual handling is minimised where possible, performing this procedure so many times can cause considerable strain on staff.

To add to the problem, the transfer surfaces can vary in height, and often have gaps between them - making the transfer difficult for staff and uncomfortable for the patient.

A solution is now available to solve these problems...

The AirSlide is an inflatable mattress with a base made of slide sheet material. The slide sheet base enables quick and easy transfer whilst the mattress cushions the individual, protecting them and maintaining comfort when negotiating uneven surfaces.

The AirSlide can be left under the patient after a transfer has been achieved to provide a comfortable mattress. It is X-Ray and MRI safe so can remain with the individual during the entire treatment process, removing the need to position an aid under them each time a transfer is required.

How it works:
Step 1: Position the individual onto the AirSlide as you would a normal slide sheet
Step 2: Inflate the AirSlide using the air supply provided
Step 3: Transfer the patient
Step 4: The AirSlide can be deflated and removed, or left under the patient as a comfortable mattress or to assist further transfers.

The AirSlide has a maximum user weight of 544kg (86 stone) so is suitable for all sizes of patient, and for ease of management it is fully portable and comes with its own trolley bag.

Infection control

MRSA and similar infections are an ever present threat to patients. To help in the fight against infection our patented technology removes all pin holes, stitching and Velcro on the mattress. To compensate for the need to include stitching on the pull straps they have been designed to be quick and easy to remove, and spare sets are available to use while the others are being washed.

The AirSlide also has an additional accessory to further help prevent infection; a disposable cover sheet. This will keep the mattress clean and in use, rather than having to be sent to the laundry.

The AirSlide is the perfect solution to the problem of lateral transfers as it takes into account the three key issues of tissue viability, infection control and manual handling

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Designers and manufacturers of products for the elderly & disabled. Established in 1981 Mangar designed the world's first powered portable bath lift, and continues to develop innovative solutions to lifting, handling & transfer problems.