GB2030047A

GB2030047A - Rescue apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2030047A
Application number: GB7836798A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: ANGLIA SAFETY DEVICES Ltd
Current assignee: ANGLIA SAFETY DEVICES Ltd
Priority date: 1978-09-14
Filing date: 1978-09-14
Publication date: 1980-04-02
Also published as: GB2030047B

Abstract

An apparatus for rescuing immobile persons, comprising a sheet to be located under a mattress and straps as claimed in specification 1,434,832 has tabs 16 with hook end loop material elements to retain the straps 4 in position adjacent the sheet until such time that the straps are needed for use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to rescue apparatus This invention relates to rescue apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for rescuing immobile persons, such as hospital patients, from hazardous conditions, such as a hospital when on fire.

A large number of patients in hospitals are unable to walk or move themselves with any great speed, and in the case of a fire breaking out in a hospital it is necessary for the nursing staff to move the patients who are not able to move themselves to a place of safety. In some hospitals a large proportion of the patients may be immobile, for example in geriatric hospitals, and in such hospitals nursing staff may have to move a large number of patients within a short period of time.

British Patent Specification No. 1,434,832 discloses a rescue apparatus suitable for use in hospitals which comprises a rectangular sheet of flexible material, a handle at one narrower end of the sheet, and two or more single straps extending widthwise across the sheet, each strap extending, at each end thereof, beyond the edge of the sheet, each strap being provided with a buckle to enable the two ends thereof to be secured together.

The said British Patent Specification No.

1,434,832, explains how such a rescue device can be located under the mattress of a bed, with the straps loosely interconnected beneath the bed and in the event that a fire breaks out the straps can be passed over the bed, the straps being connected by the buckle and then being tensioned to draw the mattress around the patient. A nurse may then grasp the handle and drag the patient to a place of safety.

Whilst the rescue apparatus as illustrated and described in the said British Patent Specification No. 1,434,832, has been used successfully in fires, and whilst apparatus substantially as described in that Specification is now fitted on many hospital beds, one disadvantage of that apparatus is that when the apparatus is not actually in use, which is, of course, a great proportion of the time, the straps may tend to hang down and touch the floor. This allows a possibility of cross-infection. A further disadvantage is that where the rescue apparatus is utilised on a bed provided with a cot side, when the time comes to pass the straps over the mattress partially to draw the mattress around the patient, the strap must be threaded between the side edge of the mattress and the cot side. This is time consuming.If the strap is not carefully threaded in this way the strap surrounds the cot side and the mattress is then strapped to the bed.

The present invention seeks to provide a rescue apparatus generally of the type described in British Patent Specification No.

1,434,832, but in which the above mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks are obviated or reduced.

According to this invention there is provided a rescue apparatus suitable for rescuing immobile persons, said apparatus comprising a generally rectangular sheet of flexible material, a handle at one narrower end of said sheet, said handle being secured to the sheet, and two or more single straps securely attached to the sheet and extending widthwise across the sheet, each strap extending, at each end thereof, beyond the edge of the sheet, one end of each strap extending further from the edge of the sheet than the other end of the respective strap, each strap being provided with a buckle to enable the two ends thereof to be secured together, the sheet additionally being provided with releasable strap retaining means adapted releasably to retain each said long strap portion adjacent one surface of the sheet.

Preferably the strap retaining means for each strap may comprise a tab secured at one end to the sheet and provided, at free end thereof, with an element of hook or loop material, a corresponding element of loop or hook material being secured to the sheet to enable the free end of the tab releasably to be connected to the sheet, and tab being located so that the long portion of the strap can be retained by the tab, when the free end thereof is connected to the sheet.

Advantageously each tab may be located on the opposite surface of the sheet from the portion of the respective strap that is attached to the sheet, but in co-alignment therewith, each tab being located adjacent the edge of the sheet from which the short strap portions protrude.

Conveniently, a further strap portion may be provided which protrudes from the region of the sheet from which the long strap portion protrudes, this further strap portion being provided with means releasably to retain the buckle in position.

The means releasably to retain the buckle in position may preferably comprise another strap portion provided with elements of hook and loop material to enable the buckle to be retained in position.

The sheet is preferably provided with strap means to secure the sheet to a mattress and said strap means may be located at each end of the sheet and are adapted to engage the four corners of a mattress.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention three single straps are provided.

Advantageously both narrow ends of the generally rectangular sheet may be provided with a handle to enable the apparatus to be grasped readily from either end and the narrow ends of the sheet may be tapered.

Advantageously the buckle provided on each strap may be a quick release buckle having one component secured to each end of the strap, the two components being adapted to engage with each other, and one component of each buckle may be provided with a device adapted to grasp the strap releasably to enable the strap to be tensioned after the buckle components have been engaged. The rescue apparatus may be formed of a nylon material, which may be treated with an antistatic agent, or from stretcher canvas.

Preferably the sheet has dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of a standard single mattress.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention with a mattress shown in phantom, with one strap withdrawn; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the upper surface of the sheet illustrated in Fig. 1, showing one strap in the stowed position.

Referring to the drawings, a rescue apparatus 1 in accordance with this invention comprises a generally rectangular sheet 2 of nylon material that is dimensioned to lie under a standard single size mattress 3. The sheet may be about 1 80 cm long and may be about 85 cm wide.

Extending widthwise across the sheet are two straps 4, 5 that are each about 5 cm wide and are formed of strong nylon webbing, the straps being parallel. Each strap is located about 45 cm from the respective end of the sheet. Whilst the portion of the sheet 2 between the straps is rectangular, the portions 6 of the sheet between the straps and the ends of the sheet are slightly tapered. Each strap extends further from one edge of the sheet than the other, one portion 7 of each strap extending about 10 cm and the other portion 8 extending about 1 60 cm. Each end of each strap is provided with a component 9, 10 of a quick release buckle, the two components 9, 10 provided on each strap being adapted to engage with one another in one predetermined way to enable the ends of each strap to be secured together.The components 9, 10 of the buckles are adapted to be connected and disconnected rapidly, and one component 10 of each buckle is provided with a tensioning device adapted to grasp the strap releasably so that if portions of the strap are pulled after the buckle components have been connected the strap may be tensioned. One quick release buckle of this particular type is described in British Patent Specification No.

690,104, but it is to be appreciated that any appropriate quick release buckle may be utilised. The two straps 4, 5 are each securely connected to the sheet throughout the region where the straps 4, 5 extend across the sheet by stitching 10' so that the rescue apparatus comprises an integral unit.

A buckle retaining short strap portion 11 is provided which is associated with each of the long strap portions 8 described above, each such buckle retaining short strap portion 11 being stitched or otherwise secured to the edge of the sheet at the point where the longer strap portion 8 is secured to the edge of the sheet.Each buckle retaining short strap portion 11 extends, from the edge of the sheet, by a distance of approximately 10 cm, and at the free end of this buckle retaining strap portion there is provided a transverse strap portion 1 2 which extends transversely and which is provided with elements 1 3 of hook and loop material, such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark "VELCRO" so that the free ends of transverse strap portion 1 2 can be connected together with the transverse strap portion embracing the appropriate buckle component 10, when the appropriate buckle component is placed in the appropriate position. This will be described in more detail hereinafter.

At each narrow end of the sheet 2 a handle 1 4 is provided. Each handle is formed from a 5 cm wide strap of nylon material, the strap being stitched 1 5 to the tapered edges of the sheet and extending beyond the end of the sheet to form the handle. The portions of the strap stitched to the edge of the sheet are folded over the edge of the sheet so that, in these regions, the strap has a substantially "U" shaped configuration, as can be seen from Fig. 2.

It is to be appreciated that the portions of the straps 4, 5 that are secured to the sheet extend underneath the sheet when the sheet is in the desired orientation.

Retaining tabs 1 6 are secured to the upper surface of the sheet, each retaining tab 1 6 being located in position above a portion of a strap 4, 5 that is stitched to the bottom of the sheet. Each tab 1 6 is also located adjacent the side edge of the sheet from which the shorter strap portions 7 protrude. Each retaining tab is provided, at the free end thereof, with an element 1 7 of hook or loop material, such as that sold under the Trade Mark "VEL CRO" and a corresponding patch 1 8 of loop or hook material is stitched to the sheet so that the retaining tab 1 6 can have the free end thereof releasably connected to the sheet.

When the sheet is prepared for use each long strap portion is folded back across the top of the sheet to pass underneath the retaining tab 16, and the elements 17, 1 8 of hook and loop material are then interengaged. The strap is then again laid across the sheet so that the buckle, which is located at the end of the strap, lies immediately above the further short protruding strap portion. The transverse strap portion 1 2 provided with the hook and loop material 1 3 is then embraced around the buckle component 10 and the elements 1 3 of hook and loop material are interengaged.

Thus the strap is retained in position by the strap retaining tab 1 6 and the buckle is retained in position by the transverse strap 12.

Additional straps 17, 1 8 are provided to retain the rescue apparatus in position on a mattress. These further straps 17, 1 8 are located at each end of the sheet, and the straps at each end of the sheet are identical.

At each end of the sheet there is provided a single strap 1 8 having a width of 2 cm which is centrally located at the end of the sheet, the strap 1 8 defining a loop at the free end thereof. The strap 1 7 extends from the point where each longer strap portion 8 is connected to the side of the sheet to the point where the shorter strap portion 7 is connected to the side of the sheet, this strap 1 7 again being of 2 cm width, and being provided with a buckle 1 8 to enable the length of the strap to be increased or decreased as desired.

In utilising the rescue apparatus as described above the rescue apparatus will be located underneath a mattress, and the said retaining straps 17, 1 8 will be located over the corners of the mattress (as shown in Fig.

1) and will be tensioned so that the straps firmly engage the mattress, thus retaining the apparatus in position on the mattress. The long portions 8 of the straps will lie between the sheet and the mattress, and will be retained in position by the retaining tabs 16, the buckles 10 of the straps being retained in position by the transverse buckle retaining straps 1 2. This is the condition of strap 4 as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the event of a fire the nurse may release the buckle retaining transverse straps 1 2 merely by disengaging the elements 1 3 of hook and loop material, and may thus grasp the buckle components 1 0. The nurse may then pull the buckle components 10, this serving to release the strap retaining tabs 16, the hook and loop material elements 1 7 and 1 8 separating. The long portions 8 of the straps will then emerge from between the mattress 3 and the sheet 2 and may be passed over the mattress. This is the condition of strap 5 as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

It will be appreciated that if the mattress is located on a bed provided with a cot side in reaching for the buckle the nurse will pass her hand between the cot side and the side edge of the mattress, and thus, on pulling the buckle component 10, the long portion 8 of the strap will emerge from between the mattress and the cot side. Thus the strap will not pass around the cot side, and consequently there is no risk that in connecting the buckle components and tensioning the strap the nurse will effectively strap the patient to the bed.

It will also be appreciated that with the long portions 8 of the straps effectively shared between the sheet and the mattress there is no risk of the straps trailing or dangling onto the floor.

When the long portions 8 of the straps have been passed over the patient and the bedding, the buckle component 10 on the long portion of each strap is interengaged with the buckle component 9 on the short portion of the strap, and a nurse may then tension the straps partially to draw the mattress 3 around the patient. The nurse may then grasp a handle 1 4 located at either end of the sheet and may drag the patient to a place of safety. If it is necessary to negotiate stairs, either going upstairs or downstairs, the patient will be protected from any bumps by the mattress.

The nylon material used for the sheet may have a shiny surface which presents little friction, thus enabling the patient to be moved rapidly. The patient may be slipped down a chute or other similar escape device whilst in the escape apparatus.

It has been found that a nurse working alone can utilise a rescue apparatus as herein described to remove a person from a hospital ward in a very short period of time. It can be seen that if the apparatus is fitted to every bed in a hospital it is not necessary for nurses to look for rescue apparatus in the case of fire, nor is it necessary for the nurse to lift a mattress to pass a rope or straps under the mattress. Similarly, since each buckle comprises two components that are adapted to engage with one another in one predetermined way the buckle is usually utilised correctly to secure the ends of the straps, and the tensioning arrangement may easily be used to tension the straps.

In some hospitals it is the practice to take a patient to the anaesthetising area or operating theatre on his or her bed and in such cases the use of nylon may not be advisable due to the possibility of a spark being generated by static electricity formed on the sheet, since some anaesthetics are explosive. Thus it may be advisable to use a sheet and straps formed from a material such as stretcher canvas or rubber, or it may be desirable to treat the nylon material with an anti-static agent.

It is to be understood that the above particularly described sheet comprises only one embodiment of the invention. If desired three long straps may be provided, and also the straps provided at the ends of the sheet to form handles may be longer than those illustrated. However, it should be noted that the short handles illustrated in the accompanying drawings make it necessary for a rescuer to bend down when dragging a patient along, thus bringing the head of the rescuer close to the floor. This may prove advantageous in a fire since smoke and hot fumes may accumulate in portions of a room or ward adjacent the ceiling, whereas there may be fresh air adjacent the floor.

It is to be understood that whilst the foregoing description relates primarily to the rescue of patients from a fire, the rescue apparatus in accordance with the invention may be utilised to rescue any bed-ridden, non-ambulatory, unconscious, ill or mentally disturbed person or persons, from a place of danger or potential danger, e.g. a room subjected to smoke, heat, noxious gases, flood or other hazardous environment. It is also to be understood that whilst the invention may be of particular value in a hospital, the rescue apparatus in accordance with the- invention may also be utilised for example in a Home for the Elderly or in an hotel.

Claims

1. A rescue apparatus suitable for rescuing immobile persons, said apparatus comprising a generally rectangular sheet of flexible material, a handle at one narrower end of said sheet, said handle being secured to the sheet, and two or more single straps securely attached to the sheet and extending widthwise across the sheet, each strap extending, at each end thereof, beyond the edge of the sheet, one end of each strap extending further from the edge of the sheet than the other end of the respective strap, each strap being provided with a buckle to enable the two ends thereof to be secured together, the sheet additionally being provided with releasable strap retaining means adapted releasably to retain each said long strap portion adjacent one surface of the sheet.

2. A rescue apparatus according to claim 1 wherein retaining means for each strap comprise a tab secured at one end to the sheet and provided, at free end thereof, with an element of hook or loop material, a corresponding element of loop or hook material being secured to the sheet to enable the free end of the tab releasably to be connected to the sheet, the tab being located so that the long portion of the strap can be retained by the tab, when the free end thereof is connected to the sheet.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the tab is located on the opposite surface of the sheet from the portion of the respective strap that is attached to the sheet, but in co-alignment therewith, said tab being located adjacent the edge of the sheet from which the short strap portions protrude.

4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a further strap portion is provided which protrudes from the region of the sheet from which the long strap portion protrudes, this further strap portion being provided with means releasably to re tain the buckle in position.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 in which the means releasably to retain the buc kle in position comprise another strap portion provided with elements of hook and loop material to enable the buckle to be retained in position.

6. A rescue apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims provided with strap means to secure the sheet to a mattress.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said strap means are located at each end of the sheet and are adapted to engage the four corners of a mattress.

8. A rescue apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein three single straps are provided.

9. A rescue apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein both narrow ends of the generally rectangular sheet are provided with a handle to enable the apparatus to be grasped readily from either end.

10. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the narrow ends of the sheet are tapered.

11. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the buckle pro vided on each strap is a quick release buckle having one component secured to each end of the strap, the two components being adapted to engage with each other.

1 2. A rescue apparatus according to claim 11 wherein one component of each buckle is provided with a device adapted to grasp the strap releasably to enable the strap to be tensioned after the buckle components have been engaged.

1 3. A rescue apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the appa ratus is formed of a nylon material.

14. A rescue apparatus according to claim 1 2 wherein said nylon material is treated with an an antistatic agent.

1 5. A rescue apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the apparatus is formed from stretcher canvas.

16. A rescue apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the sheet has dimensions corresponding to the dimen sions of a standard single mattress.

1 7. A rescue apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 8. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.