Press Releases
Durham Regional Hospital First in North Carolina to Purchase New Patient Emergency Evacuation Equipment
May 28, 2007PHOTO/VIDEO OPPORTUNITY: Training for the new slides, including transport of mock patients, is scheduled for staff at various times through June 7. If you are interested in attending, contact Carol Clayton or Kellie Peacock.
Durham, NC- Durham Regional Hospital recently added ParaslydeTM evacuation equipment to its Emergency Preparedness Plan. The ParaslydeTM is an apparatus designed to assist with evacuating immobile patients from the building. Durham Regional was the first hospital in North Carolina to purchase the new equipment.
"Evacuating patients can be difficult and requires numerous staff," says Aaron Weinbaum, MBA, CFPS, safety officer for Durham Regional Hospital. "The paraslydes help remove patients safely and easily while drastically reducing the necessary staff and time required for moving patients - both of which are limited during an emergency."
Incidents that may cause the need for evacuation include earthquakes, structure fires, hurricanes and any unforeseen catastrophe.
The ParaslydeTM is used to transport patients from their beds, down halls and stairways and out of the building. The tool can be navigated by one to four people, which makes it ideal for emergency situations. It works by securing the patient in the slide and then allows staff to navigate the apparatus with pulling and pushing straps.
According to Paramed System, features of the ParaslydeTM include:
- Durable 8mm corrugated polypropylene that acts as a temporary bed post evacuation and is easy to decontaminate
- Evacuates patients by using several different options
- Belay down continuous flights of stairs with a controlled friction device
- Harnessing system enables personnel to pull in an ergonomic fashion
- Brings a new level of comfort for personnel and patients
- Easily stows in closets or under mattresses
About ParaMed Systems:
ParaMed Systems was founded in 1999 by EMT Nathan Walkingshaw. He began to work on concepts for a "cot track device" that would eliminate the need to carry ambulance cots down stairs and steep inclines. In collaboration with an engineer, Walkingshaw designed the patent-pending Descent Control System. For more information, visit http://www.paramedsystems.com/.
