Review 3.2 - European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel

epuap Pressure
EUROPEAN PRESSURE ULCER ADVISORY PANEL
Mattress Overlays
NATIONAL SPECIFICATION FOR ALTERNATING PRESSURE
MATTRESS OVERLAYS
NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency
OVER the life of the EPUAP to date, there has often
been debate regarding the need for formal
specifications of pressure redistributing beds, mattresses
and cushions. Within the UK the National Health
Service Purchasing and Supply Agency recently released
such a draft specification covering alternating pressure
mattress overlays. This draft specification is printed in full
in this issue of the EPUAP by kind permission of the NHS
Purchasing and Supply Agency. We hope that the publication
of this specification will generate debate among EPUAP
members – are there other specifications currently in development
(or indeed been finalised!) within other countries
If other specifications exist, we would be delighted to
reprint them in the EPUAP Review to allow members to
see the current state of play of specification development
across Europe. Members may wish to consider whether we
as a European organisation should be seeking to work with
public bodies to develop such specifications Please send
any specific comments upon the UK draft specification direct
to Nikki Aylward (nikki.aylward@doh.gsi.gov.uk).
SPECIFICATION FOR ALTERNATING
PRESSURE AIR MATTRESS OVERLAY FOR
ADULTS
1. Construction
a) Mattress overlay
(i)
Constructed in one layer of either replaceable cells
individually attached to manifold or of two or more
sheets welded together, whichever more economical
overall. 16–19 cells, all alternating. All connections
to be secured (e.g., glued over barbed connector or
clipped over groove, not push-fit) to resist pull force
of 25kg.
(ii) Construction will allow profiling, without any loss of
function.
(iii) Fully enclosed within waterproof cover zipped at
least on two short and one long sides. Zip protected
with skirt. Cover will not hammock between alternating
cells.
(iv) Dimensions inflated: length and width to comply
with specifications for hospital bed dimensions as
specified by National and International regulations
(v)
when supplied for hospital use; otherwise a range of
sizes suitable for domestic use should be provided;
depth 13–15cm.
Rapid deflation for CPR by disconnection of air
tubes from the mattress at the normal point of
attachment deflation for the thorax should be
achieved within 15 seconds for an individual of 70kg
and normal BMI.
(vi) Attached to underlying mattress by head and foot
end flaps which are secured in place by continuous
elasticised bands miming from the long edges of the
mattress under the underlying mattress.
(see Figure 1)
(vii) Maximum weight not to exceed 15kg
b) Connecting tubes
(i)
Tubing of a durable, kink resistant material (e.g.,
EPDM rubber), at least 60cm and not more than
100cm long.
(ii) Attached to motor with high quality positive mechanical
latch connectors (e.g., plastic Colder
connector at least 1.9cm external diameter or
equivalent). Plastic to plastic or metal to metal but
not mixture. Connectors on the pump unit to be
attached and secured (e.g., glued over barbed
connector, clipped over groove or screwed in, not
push-fit) to resist pull force of 25kg. Attached to
pump unit with adequate separation between
connectors to allow easy connection and disconnection
of mattress.
(iii) Tubing permanently attached to mattress and
secured (e.g., glued over barbed connector or
clipped over groove, not push-fit) to resist pull force
of 25kg.
c) Pump unit
(i)
Dimensions: not more than 13cm deep, 33cm wide.
Height should not impede use of bed stripper when
pump unit is suspended from foot board of bed.
(ii) Box constructed of impact resistant, smooth, easily
decontaminated material. Recessed control panel to
protect from accidental damage. Rounded internal
corners to facilitate cleaning.
(iii) Attachment to foot end of bed by hook built into
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