Catheter Holder
A brand new Foley catheter holder for short-term patient use, in addition to their leg band style holder for long-term catheterization, has been introduced by Dale Medical Products Inc. of Plainville, Mass.
The Dale Hold-n-Place Foley catheter holder is an adhesive patch that has a clear, skin-friendly base, and a locking tab that features a dual holding system of adhesive and hook-and-loop to secure the indwelling catheter. Stabilizing the catheter to prevent movement and dislodgment helps reduce the likelihood of meatal irritation, bladder spasms and urethral erosion. The re-sealable system allows the catheter to be repositioned multiple times.
Designed for short-term application, the catheter holder’s adhesive latex-free patch is clear and breathable. The center locking tab can be secured at the “Y” port or on the drainage tube itself, and creates a low-profile that keeps the tube close to the patient. For long-term catheterization, the firm’s leg band holder is soft, stretches without narrowing to avoid the tourniquet affect and meets WOCN guidelines.
Allison Frazer: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
First Line Delivers AmbuBus Kits
First Line Technology recently delivered 40 AmbuBus bus stretcher conversion kits to the Georgia Department of Human Resources, completing a $1 million statewide contract to enhance evacuation capabilities during natural or man-made disasters. The Georgia Department of Human Resources, in conjunction with local school districts, deployed these assets around the State of Georgia to convert school buses or other transit buses into mass-transport ambulances.
The AmbuBus allows Georgia to use vehicles of opportunity in the state to expediently and efficiently evacuate hospitals, medical facilities and nursing homes during a hurricane evacuation. “Georgia joins other states in putting together an effective plan with the AmbuBus kit to ensure that non-ambulatory citizens are able to evacuate without having to rely on ambulances,” said Amit Kapoor, First Line’s president. “With lessons learned from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and most recently Ike and Gustav, states are realizing that there are just not enough ambulances available for an effective evacuation, and the need for a package like the AmbuBus kit that can convert any school or transit bus into a mass-casualty transport vehicle is critical in any emergency plan.”
Amit Kapoor: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Maritime Recovery/Evacuation
Netcessities of Logansport, Ind., has developed the Black Irish recovery lift bag, which is a complete underwater recovery lift system that enables secure underwater casualty evacuation. The system streamlines and aids the recovery and lift process more efficiently than standard procedures.
The Black Irish standard-sized unit opens to reveal a square 6-foot-by-6-foot recovery net in which the casualty is placed. Additional larger sizes are available and all are equipped with two integrated lift bags—starting at 25-pound lift capacity—on opposing sides. The net then cradles the casualty for a safe, controlled and efficient ascent. Unlike traditional methods of recovery, the Black Irish gently recovers the casualty, lessening the risk of additional injuries.
Topside, the system is easy to manage using the four corner handles. The 400-pound load capacity derives from the continuous single strap construction, double stitched seams, reinforced corner stitching and knot stitched polyester netting. The integrated lift bags are easy to change out for an as-needed lift capacity. “Our recovery system is very versatile and can be customized by size and lift capacity to meet the exact needs of our customer,” said Bobbi J. Benish, president and founder. “We offer the Black Irish in several different sizes and configurations depending on the mission requirements.”
Bobbi Benish: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Vaccine Temperature Monitoring
Vaccines need to be kept at certain temperature ranges to avoid damage and waste. For refrigerated vaccines, this temperature is between 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit or 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. For freezer vaccines, this range is 5 degrees F or -15 degrees C and lower. Not following these guidelines can lead to lost dollars due to vaccine waste and the liability of potential health risks in patients.
Simi Valley, Calif.-based SensoTech, a developer of embedded Web-based wireless temperature monitoring systems, now offers a vaccine monitoring module. “We are aware that these are very expensive vaccines they’re dealing with and we really want to support them in proper handling and storage. The key is to prevent these things from happening before the damage occurs,” said Mike Zarei, vice president of business development. “The best way to do that is through proper and continuous temperature monitoring—and that’s where we come in.”
Often, temperatures are logged but nothing is ever done about out-ofrange- temperature incidents, according to Zarei. Sometimes employees do not even know that the temperature is out of range. With the continuous monitoring the SensoTech vaccine monitoring module provides, an audible alert is heard or an e-mail alert is received when the temperature is out of range, allowing it to be addressed immediately and minimizing costly vaccine damage.
Mike Zarei: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Prism Identification Band
DQE Inc. has added increased functionality to the DQE Prism inflatable light. For years, the inflatable light has been providing 360 degrees of light for emergency scenes. With the addition of the new identification band, the light can now also serve as area signage.
The band fits snuggly around the light to provide illuminated signage on two sides of the light. Each identification band is custom-made with the lettering and letter colors specified by the buyer. Common band lettering includes “command” and “triage,” lighting and identifying specific areas of an operation.
The DQE Prism Inflatable Light is an air-inflated cylinder that raises the light source 15 feet to provide complete scene illumination. The light is compact and lightweight for transport and setup by one person. It illuminates completely in less than three minutes, to light up to 12,000 square yards, or approximately two football fields. The light is also available as a mini tower, inflating 9 feet high for indoor or low overhang areas.
Contamination Control
A portable contamination control unit developed by Air Innovations has been designed to help hospitals, clinics, extended care and disaster centers quickly expand their ability to handle surge capacity for isolation, trauma and burn care as well as increase their preparedness for pandemic influenza.
“IsolationAir rapidly deploys to create negative or positive pressure, improve air quality around patients and staff, and provide for patient and staff comfort by controlling temperature and humidity in the room,” explained Air Innovations president and CEO Michael Wetzel, P.E. “Because the unit wheels into place on an as-needed basis, plugs into 110-volt power and requires no tools for installation, it easily converts any standardsized room—from health care facility to hotel to military base—into an isolation room for emergency services.”
The patented unit meets or exceeds specifications for isolation space established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Institute of Architects and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers.
The unit uses known and accepted technologies for filtering and purifying the air, including highly efficient HEPA filters and ultraviolet germicidal light. When used to create negative room pressure, the unit will help prevent the escape of infectious diseases and reduce cross-contamination risks to hospital personnel and other patients. When used to create positive room pressure, the unit will help prevent airborne particles from infiltrating the isolation room and infecting immuno-compromised patients. In addition, IsolationAir will isolate the patient’s room from the building’s central system to reduce cross-contamination risks as well as continually operate when plugged into a room’s emergency generator outlet. ♦