Our veterinary customer says they use BigSlider™ Professional model as “a ground level stretcher for non-ambulatory patients.” So here’s a question from a potential customer…any comments from evacuation experts, EMS, firefighters, or those in the medical community would be greatly appreciated!
Mag Ruffman's Relative
“I have a bedridden son, age 52, 215 pounds. Live in a mobile home and am terrified of fire and how I would get him out of the house. Do you think this would help me?” — LJW
Here’s what I replied…
“As far as I know, BigSlider has not yet been used for evacuation, so these are NOT proven ideas.
First, you would need a way to safely get him from the bed to the floor. Practice, practice, practice your evacuation procedure to make sure you and your son can do it!
Here’s one idea…Roll your son on his side, place the sheet next to his body, then roll him back on to the sheet. This technique was used by an elderly woman caring for her husband when she needed to get him to the Hoyer lift and back in to the wheelchair.
If he has no upper body strength you may need to loop a webbing strap under his arms; otherwise, can he hold on? Pull him off the bed to a ‘ramp’ of sofa cushions, pillows, comforters, and/or a thick blankets to the floor. Then make sure to start pulling slowly or you’ll leave him behind (like the tablecloth trick). Once up to speed, you’ll be fine.
Since his length will take up the full length of the sheet, you’ll need to attach the rope to the handle and tie a knot at your palm height. That way you can pull standing up straight and use your full body weight and leg muscles. On commercial carpet or driveway concrete, a 215 load is about a 61 lb pull for you. See Mag Ruffman’s video (the “Anything I Can Do” icon) on BigSlider website to watch Mag pulling one of her relatives. [It takes a little while to load, but worth it!]
If you need to get him down the stairs, you can create a sling using the rope and tail holes. The stairs will support at least 1/2 the weight if they aren’t too steep. Clearly you’ll need to practice different ideas, get ropes and straps as needed, then practice again. That way you and your son will ‘know the drill’ in case of an emergency. Note that BigSlider is plastic and only good to 150 degrees F and melts at 266 degrees. (Water boils at 212 degrees.) So you can’t use it to pull anyone out of a fire!”
