Emergency Bariatric Equipment

Bariatric equipment is rapidly becoming a necessity of ambulance practice and safe transport of patients who suffer with morbid obesity. As society’s obesity rates have risen to epidemic levels, medical engineers and bio-medical engineers have risen to the challenge and we have seen the invention of many new bariatric products. The following is a guide and review of common bariatric products used by Ambulance Services and hospitals alike:

The Hovermatt

The Hovermatt is literally what it sounds like. It is basically a plastic sheet that can be placed underneath the patient and then inflated so as to create a cushion of air around the obese patient and then hover, allowing health care workers and paramedics to slide an obese patient from one bed to the other. Depending on how many Hovermatts an organisation wants to purchase, they can be easily purchased and introduced into a health service for around $2500 per Hovermatt. The hovermatt is easily cleaned, safe, and has been statistically proven to reduce the amount of back injuries amongst healthcare workers.

The HoverJack

The HoverJack is a natural extension of the hovermatt concept and basically is a set of 4 hovermattresses attached to eachother. The hoverjack can be placed underneath the patient who has a BMI of 25, 35, 45 and higher! Then, as the hoverjack is inflated using a reverse vacume device, the hoverjack raises up to the height of stretcher, bed or other specified device. This makes it so that you avoid lifting the patient from ground height. The hoverjack may be used in situations where the patient is unable to get down stairs or his or her bedroom and in an emergency, may be used to literally drag the patient down using its hover-craft properties (each country has different laws regarding the safe working limits and risk management strategies for this). A HoverJack can be purchased for around $6-8,000.

Here is a video link of a HoverJack demonstration:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4F0hbr99cs

Striker Bariatric Stretcher

The striker bariatric stretcher has been designed to specifically meet the needs of paramedics who have to transport bariatric and super morbidly obese patietns in an emergency. The Striker Bariatric Stretcher has been designed to hold patients in excess of 1400 pounds! Striker Bariatric Stretchers usually cost around $6-7 000 each.

Mac Bariatric Lifter

The Mac Bariatric Lifter has been designed to lift a bariatric stretcher and the heaviest of bariatric patients from ground height onto the bariatric ambulance. Mac Bariatric Lifters have been designed to fit numerous models of bariatric ambulances, and commonly cost around $12,000.