Safe Patient Lifting for the Emergency Services

The Mangar inflatable lifting cushions and lifting chairs (ELK and Camel) are used by every NHS Ambulance Trust in the UK. Selected as their moving and handling equipment of choice, this safe patient lifting equipment protects ambulance workers from musculoskeletal injury acquired through patient handling. The popularity of the cushions is spreading globally, and we now also supply emergency services in the USA, Australia, Canada and many parts of Europe.

Moving fallen people is a regular part of the working day for many healthcare professionals working within the emergency services sector, including fire brigades, CFR and Falls teams. It’s the repetitive nature of the work that can cause serious back injuries or musculoskeletal disorders. The single greatest risk factor for overexertion injuries in healthcare workers is the manual lifting and the moving and repositioning of patients.

The Mangar Camel and Mangar ELK lifting cushions are practical solutions to this daily challenge.

The versatility of the products means they can be used in confined spaces, to get people out who are stuck in the bath and of course with a safe working load of up to 70 stone, the equipment can be used for plus size patients too. Unlike hoists or other mechanical lifting devices, lifting cushions are perfect for single handed care when lifting people who have fallen to the floor

Most importantly, by using a lifting cushion the likelihood of getting injured reduces. Within a year of introducing the ELK to South Western Ambulance, sickness had reduced by 10% saving the service over £300K.

Within a year of introducing the ELK, sickness had reduced by 10% saving the service over £300,000

South Western Ambulance

‘I was surprised how strong and durable the cushion is and how easy it is to use. It’s a handy piece of equipment for the team to have and will help protect us from potential injuries and provide a safe lift for our patients.’

Nick Richards Ozzati Community First Responder

We received a complaint from a member of the public that an elderly relative had fallen in the hospital during visiting time. They had asked staff for help to get up and been lifted using a hoist. This had caused the elderly visitor some distress. They felt a hoist was undignified and shouldn’t be used on ‘non-patients’. I had come across the Mangar Camel before and recognised that for uninjured people who have fallen, an inflatable lifting cushion provides a comfortable, dignified lift while still protecting staff from injury. I recommended the introduction of Camels into our hospitals. We now keep the lifting cushions stored centrally and easily accessible on medical wards.

Kevin Good Hope Hospital

Our team use a Mangar Lifting Cushion to raise the fallen person from the floor. The cushions provide a safe lift for the resident but also help prevent musculoskeletal injury to our staff. Because of the amount of falls we attend, the lifting cushions are used every day and have been for nearly 10 years. They are a reliable piece of equipment that we wouldn’t be without.

Heather Rimmer Norfolk Swift Response