Case Study: Preventing pressure damage while travelling

Chris Mason, a design engineer and keen motorist, received a pressure ulcer whilst visiting Squirrel Medical's head office in Devon. Chris explained that most hotels do not offer pressure-relieving mattresses within their disabled bedrooms, and this fact either prohibits travel or makes it uncomfortable or even dangerous.

The company and Chris himself therefore set about designing a system that would allow him to travel Europe, happy that he would receive similar capillary stimulation and pressure relief as delivered by his Squirrel Diamond at home.

The essentials were:
• absolute portability so that someone in a wheelchair could carry the mattress into a hotel unaided
• easy to set up and pack away by someone using a wheelchair
• stable enough for a safe wheelchair transfer without asking for someone to hit static mode
• slim profile so that it could be used on one side of a double bed, with a partner
• to be as effective as possible without the usual repositioning intervention, that would otherwise be strongly advised.

Around this time, Squirrel Medical were contacted by Phillip from Park Lane, London, to say that his client had developed a grade 2 pressure ulcer on a very high risk foam mattress and he wanted to experiment with a low profile overlay mattress. A prototype was provided, and within a matter of days his client's ulcer had healed completely. Of course, the client also had full clinical intervention, including attention to diet, hydration and moisture as well as a repositioning regime. Chris similarly reported his own experience with the prototype overlay, that it was extremely effective at preventing ulcers, and more surprisingly without a repositioning regime.

It would be wrong to say that this overlay would give the same clinical performance to all users of any weight, as a £4000 replacement mattress. Everyone is unique, most would like to travel, if possible, and this might be the solution.

The company therefore offers a free 7 day no quibble trial period to allow potential users the possibility of addressing this question in conjunction with their own clinical advisors. There is a recommended upper weight limit of 17 stone, and Squirrel also endorses as much clinical intervention as is necessary.

They have adapted a version to be used on a cruise liner, and supply a small carry bag. The overlay is clearly marked medical equipment, as this will normally ensure no excess luggage surcharges.

You can see more of Squirrel Medical's products here