Evacuation Sheet for Active Mattresses - Emergency Patient Evacuation Aid for Overlay and Replacement Systems.
- Specifically Designed for Active Mattress Thickness and Profile - standard foam mattress evacuation sheets (ID 303) use elastic corner straps calibrated for the relatively uniform thickness and rectangular profile of a standard foam mattress; active (powered) mattress systems - whether overlay or full replacement types - have significantly greater thickness, complex multi-section profiles due to their internal cell and zone architecture, and in some cases variable thickness across the mattress surface due to dynamic inflation; the Evacuation Sheet for Active Mattresses is designed to accommodate this increased and variable thickness, ensuring the elastic corner straps and the integrated patient securing straps achieve effective fit across the wider range of active mattress profiles in clinical use.
- Permanently Fitted for Instant Emergency Access - the sheet remains permanently in position under the active mattress at all times, fitted as part of the initial bed setup when the active mattress is first installed; unlike a stored evacuation product that must be retrieved from a cupboard or wall mount, the permanently fitted sheet is always in position beneath the mattress and requires only the deployment of the integrated straps during an emergency; this permanent fitting is particularly important for active mattress users who are typically the highest-dependency residents in a care setting and who would require the most rapid evacuation response in a fire emergency.
- Flexible Design Aids Passage Through Standard Doorways - the sheet's construction is designed to flex during evacuation, allowing the mattress to be guided through standard doorways that may be close in width to the mattress width; this flexibility is relevant for active mattresses which may be marginally wider than standard foam mattresses at some inflation states, and where the sheet must not create additional rigidity that would impede doorway passage.
- Fire-Retardant - RRFSO 2005 PEEP Required - NCL-HTE001/2 - fire-retardant high-strength fabric; smooth underside for low-friction evacuation across any floor surface; PEEP documentation required for each resident using an active mattress with this sheet; staff must be trained in the deployment sequence specific to the active mattress variant in use; product code NCL-HTE001/2.
Evacuation Sheet for Active Mattresses - Overlay and Replacement - Permanently Fitted - Fire Retardant
The Evacuation Sheet for Active Mattresses is designed for the increased thickness and variable profiles of powered overlay and replacement mattress systems, remaining permanently fitted under the active mattress for instant emergency deployment. Flexible construction for standard doorway passage. Smooth underside for low-friction floor travel. Integrated patient securing straps. High-strength fire-retardant fabric. Required in PEEPs per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. NCL-HTE001/2.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mattress Compatibility | Active mattress systems - overlay and full replacement types |
| Fitting | Permanently fitted - part of initial active mattress setup |
| Patient Securing | Integrated straps |
| Underside | Smooth - low friction across floor surfaces |
| Construction | Fire-retardant high-strength fabric; flexible for doorway passage |
| Reference | NCL-HTE001/2 |
| Compliance | Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; PEEP documentation; staff training |
Regulatory Compliance
The Evacuation Sheet for Active Mattresses must be fitted at the time of active mattress installation and documented in the resident's PEEP as the designated evacuation method. The PEEP must specify the active mattress type in use and confirm this sheet variant is fitted. All staff must receive training in the deployment sequence specific to the active mattress, as the strap routing around a thicker and more complex mattress profile differs from the standard foam mattress technique. The sheet must be inspected as part of the active mattress service and inspection cycle. CQC Regulation 12 compliance requires PEEP documentation, training records, and inspection evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can the standard foam mattress evacuation sheet not be used with an active mattress system?
Active mattress systems (pressure-relieving dynamic air mattresses, alternating pressure overlays, and similar powered systems) differ from standard foam mattresses in several physical dimensions that affect evacuation sheet compatibility. Thickness: an active mattress system may be 150-250mm thick when fully inflated, compared with a standard foam mattress at 100-150mm; elastic corner straps sized for standard thickness will not close securely around a thicker active mattress and may not hold the mattress and patient securely during the evacuation pull. Surface profile: active mattresses have an uneven surface due to their internal cell or zone structure, which creates a different contact geometry with the elastic strap than a flat foam surface; the strap may not grip at the intended locations on an active mattress surface. Active state: during an emergency, the active mattress may be in any inflation state, including partially deflated or in a diagnostic cycle state, affecting its compressibility under the elastic strap. Patient securing straps: the routing of patient securing straps around an active mattress requires different strap length and routing than around a foam mattress, because the active mattress thickness means a standard foam mattress strap may not reach around the combined mattress-patient package. The active mattress specific sheet addresses all these factors with strap dimensions and attachment points calibrated for the active mattress's physical characteristics.
Does the active mattress need to be switched off or deflated before evacuation using the sheet?
The evacuation sheet for active mattresses is designed for use with the mattress in its operational state, including when the mattress is inflated or in an active cycle; evacuating a powered mattress in an emergency requires the fastest possible response, and switching the mattress off or waiting for it to deflate would add seconds or minutes to the evacuation initiation time that may not be available in a fire emergency. The sheet accommodates the operational thickness and profile of the inflated active mattress through its design specifications. However, the total weight being moved during an evacuation includes the mattress weight plus the patient weight; an inflated active mattress is heavier than a deflated one (due to the air mass in the cells and the powered components), and this combined weight must be assessed in the PEEP's staffing requirement calculation. In some active mattresses, the internal compressor or motor adds additional rigid weight that affects the overall evacuation manoeuvre; the care team must practice the evacuation procedure with the specific active mattress model in situ to assess the actual effort required and to confirm that the PEEP's staffing level is sufficient for the specific mattress weight in the inflated state.
NCL-HTE001/2
- Specifically Designed for Active Mattress Thickness and Profile - standard foam mattress evacuation sheets (ID 303) use elastic corner straps calibrated for the relatively uniform thickness and rectangular profile of a standard foam mattress; active (powered) mattress systems - whether overlay or full replacement types - have significantly greater thickness, complex multi-section profiles due to their internal cell and zone architecture, and in some cases variable thickness across the mattress surface due to dynamic inflation; the Evacuation Sheet for Active Mattresses is designed to accommodate this increased and variable thickness, ensuring the elastic corner straps and the integrated patient securing straps achieve effective fit across the wider range of active mattress profiles in clinical use.
- Permanently Fitted for Instant Emergency Access - the sheet remains permanently in position under the active mattress at all times, fitted as part of the initial bed setup when the active mattress is first installed; unlike a stored evacuation product that must be retrieved from a cupboard or wall mount, the permanently fitted sheet is always in position beneath the mattress and requires only the deployment of the integrated straps during an emergency; this permanent fitting is particularly important for active mattress users who are typically the highest-dependency residents in a care setting and who would require the most rapid evacuation response in a fire emergency.
- Flexible Design Aids Passage Through Standard Doorways - the sheet's construction is designed to flex during evacuation, allowing the mattress to be guided through standard doorways that may be close in width to the mattress width; this flexibility is relevant for active mattresses which may be marginally wider than standard foam mattresses at some inflation states, and where the sheet must not create additional rigidity that would impede doorway passage.
- Fire-Retardant - RRFSO 2005 PEEP Required - NCL-HTE001/2 - fire-retardant high-strength fabric; smooth underside for low-friction evacuation across any floor surface; PEEP documentation required for each resident using an active mattress with this sheet; staff must be trained in the deployment sequence specific to the active mattress variant in use; product code NCL-HTE001/2.