Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error
Ski sheets any good?
Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Previous Topic Next Topic
Mrs Noodles  
#1 Posted : 07 September 2012 20:35:04(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Mrs Noodles
I work within the Healthcare sector and was with a Fire Officer today on an inspection and he recommended the use of a ski sheet to evacuate residents with no mobility. Does anyone have any experience of these and are they expensive to purchase?
Back to top
John D C  
#2 Posted : 09 September 2012 14:46:21(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
John D C
Hi Ski sheets are excellent for evacuating bed bound patients when the bed cannot be moved through a doorway e.g. where the means of escape may be via a staircase. They should be left in pace under the mattress and therefore ready for use. They work by wrapping around the mattress and holding the patient in the mattress. Staff will need practical training in their use as they do seem a bit cumbersome when first looked at but with training staff become quickly aware of how easy it can be to move a patient. If you have a hospital close by which has some very old buildings they may well use them and it might be worth contacting them. Take care JohnC
Back to top
Mrs Noodles  
#3 Posted : 09 September 2012 22:59:57(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Mrs Noodles
Hi John Thank you for your reply. I will try and make contact with a local hospital. I suppose in the end it comes down to cost per unit but I have to say they do look a great solution.
Back to top
Hospital Boy  
#4 Posted : 10 September 2012 12:11:46(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Hospital Boy
Hi, I work for a large NHS Tust with two acute large hospitals. PM me and i will try to help you, as we have around 1,400 of these ski sheets in use. Cheers HB
Back to top
elburt  
#5 Posted : 10 September 2012 12:52:20(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
elburt
Hi it depends what type of mattresses you have. If you have profile type mattresses the ski sheets are really good but if you are in care home healthcare and have divan mattresses (as many still do) you perhaps should look at something like the ski pad/albac mat style evacuation aid or you may need a mixture. Also ensure that each unit is assessed separately as we discovered one of our units had steep stairs so had to find an alternative. LB
Back to top
bilbo  
#6 Posted : 10 September 2012 12:57:46(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
bilbo
Mrs Noodles - if you do consider using these you will also need to consider the manual handling issues that will arise.
Back to top
Mrs Noodles  
#7 Posted : 11 September 2012 13:28:37(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Mrs Noodles
Hospital Boy wrote:
Hi, I work for a large NHS Tust with two acute large hospitals. PM me and i will try to help you, as we have around 1,400 of these ski sheets in use. Cheers HB
I've sent you a pm, thanks
Back to top
Mrs Noodles  
#8 Posted : 11 September 2012 13:30:16(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Mrs Noodles
bilbo wrote:
Mrs Noodles - if you do consider using these you will also need to consider the manual handling issues that will arise.
Hi Bilbo I'm aware of the manual handling issues that may arise for staff but thanks for the heads up. Currently in a couple of homes we have the evac mattresses in place which are also a manual handling issue.
Back to top
Mrs Noodles  
#9 Posted : 11 September 2012 13:32:41(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Mrs Noodles
Elburt wrote:
Hi it depends what type of mattresses you have. If you have profile type mattresses the ski sheets are really good but if you are in care home healthcare and have divan mattresses (as many still do) you perhaps should look at something like the ski pad/albac mat style evacuation aid or you may need a mixture. Also ensure that each unit is assessed separately as we discovered one of our units had steep stairs so had to find an alternative. LB
We do have profile type mattresses. I agree we may need a mixed solution and each unit will need to be assessed separately. I'd never heard of the ski sheets until the fire officer mentioned them to me and they appear to be a good solution in the right care setting.
Back to top
Psycho  
#10 Posted : 11 September 2012 13:53:03(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Psycho
a problem with ski sheets is the laundering of them they need specialist laundering on each patient change, due to infection control aspects, it was cost a fortune to get them washed, we went down the ski pad route but if you do get ski pads get the fully washable ones as we used one for a patient who callapsed on the top of a stair they grand slamed the thing vomit etc, only to find that they cannot be laundered (the top is cloth the bottom slide material) it made for an expensive single use item the washableones are made out of the slide material all over and cost a fiver more
Back to top
Mrs Noodles  
#11 Posted : 11 September 2012 17:10:58(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Mrs Noodles
Thanks for the tip Psycho, like you say for the sake on an extra fiver.
Back to top
Users browsing this topic
Guest (2)
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.

Powered by YAF.NET | YAF.NET © 2003-2025, Yet Another Forum.NET