How to use an anti-decubitus mattress

For bedridden patients, mattresses are often used to eliminate and prevent bedsores. They can be used starting from the very first days of illness. Air chambers can change configuration when inflated with air.

Redistribution of air helps massage different parts of the patient's body, increasing blood supply to the affected areas. What causes bedsores? This is a consequence of compression of human tissue. Due to the unique design of the anti-decubitus mattress, this does not happen. The use of such a product can help prevent bedsores.

They improve the condition of patients for stroke, diseases of the central nervous system, heart attack and pathologies of the spine.

How are such products useful? They help increase blood flow, improve their nutrition by massaging the tissues of a bedridden patient.

How to use an anti-decubitus mattress with a compressor

• We connect it to the compressor with hoses. The compressor is installed at the feet or at the head of the bed.
• The anti-bedsore mattress is placed with the air chambers facing upward, while the tubes connecting the product to the compressor are installed at the patient’s feet. We make sure that the tubes do not bend.
• Initially, we install the compressor, pump up the product, check that it is functioning correctly, and transfer the sick person.

The compressor must operate continuously.

Position on the bed

• We place the anti-decubitus mattress on top of the regular one, on the sleeping place.
• Place a sheet or a special absorbent sheet over it (if the mattress is not configured with a blowing system).

What to look for when purchasing

Should be considered degree of immobility of the patient (can the person move or is he just lying down), is it necessary to treat the resulting bedsores or is it necessary to carry out prophylaxis, how long will the bed rest last.

You should pay attention to the noise level that the mattress produces; measure the parameters of the sleeping place and compare them with the mattress.

Static or dynamic

If the patient gets up and moves, then it is better to purchase a static model that evenly distributes the load from the body to the mattress. Material: polyurethane foam.

Dynamic models come with a compressor. It blows air into one or another chamber of the product. This guarantees a massage effect and changes the pressure on areas of the body. This helps eliminate bedsores and prevents them from forming. Hollow chambers can be of two types: cells and cylinders. The choice of model should depend on the load given by the patient’s body and the physical condition of the person.

• With weight less than 120 kg, in the presence of bedsores (mild or moderate), it is better to use model with cells. The design of the product involves many empty cells; the compressor blows them off and inflates them.
• If the weight more than 120 kg, and the bedsores are strong, then it is better to take models with built-in cylinders. They are located across the product and are filled with air using a compressor.

Patient weight

When choosing a product, you need to look at the patient's weight.

If the patient is heavy and this weight exceeds the carrying capacity, then the cells inflated with air will not be able to support the patient. The surface of the body will begin to come into contact with the mattress. Such a mattress will not be effective in treating bedsores.

Compressor noise

When purchasing a dynamic model, you need to listen to whether the compressor is noisy, because it will work constantly. If it is too noisy, then depression of the central nervous system begins, which leads to the development of diseases. The noise should not be more than 30 dB.

Airflow system

Dynamic models (with cells or with cylinders) can be equipped with a special blowing system. This is convenient when the patient is heavy or has heavy sweating.

The blowing system consists of small holes created by a laser. The air leaving the holes circulates, causing a cooling effect on the body. Absorbent sheets can be used instead of blowing.

Material

Most often, anti-decubitus mattresses are made of polyvinyl chloride or rubberized material. They are easy to wash and dry easily. Products made from PVC are easier to repair, and mattresses with a rubber base are warmer and more comfortable for long-term use.

Storage and care

Only the inflated mattress is cleaned; it is wiped with a cloth and soapy water. Do not clean the product with alcohol or chlorine-containing substances. Do not wash it with products containing dye.

Drying takes place away from light, the products are not ironed. Every 3 days, the compressor is wiped with a damp cotton cloth; do not rub with soap, powdered abrasives, or alcohol.

For storage, the product is deflated, turned over so that the cylinders (cells) are inside and rolled up. The hoses are twisted so that they do not bend or get pinched. They are wrapped in a bag.

The storage location is selected in a place that is inaccessible to dust and light. Optimal storage temperature: from 5 to 20 degrees Celsius.

Precautionary measures

If the compressor is switched off for a long period of time, it is necessary to check its functionality. To do this, it is plugged into a power outlet: air must come out of the hoses once every 4–6 minutes.

The tubes should be free of dust, soot and dirt. They are folded so that there are no kinks or pinches.