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| 3080 2080 S 280 and S 380 |
Benefit:
Protection. As
much protection as necessary, as much freedom as possible.In cooperation with the Advanced Technical College at Osnabrück and the Institute for Nursing Care Science at the University of Witten-Herdecke, Völker organized in the summer of 2002 a series of lectures under the topic "Prevention of Downfalls". Lecturers included Elizabeth Capezuti, inter alia a member of the steering committee of the workgroup for hospital bed safety, and Julie A. Braun, inter alia chair of the US judiciary committee of the US workgroup for hospital bed safety. They demonstrated that restrictive measures should not be provided within nursing care and which psychological and physical impacts they might involve. Interested listeners got to know how norms and regulations for bed side rails in particular would develop in the near future -probably also in Europe. Case by case, both lecturers were able to prove that measures restricting individual independence - also including bed side rails - were no effective protection against downfalls. Nevertheless, the use of physical restrictions and bed side rails is most frequently justified by just the argument of protecting nursing home occupants against falls and fall-related injuries. "Individual independence of excited occupants who lack cooperation has been limited for years in order to be able to dominate their behaviour," said Braun and Capezuti. Nevertheless, these studies prove that restricted occupants show the same or even worse symptoms of agitation than those occupants who are not restricted. These findings suggest that applying restrictive measures to excited older occupants rather deteriorates than improves their behaviour. If bed side rails are raised to the high position, many occupants have a "prison-like feeling". On the other hand, side rails on healthcare beds are important pieces of equipment, however. Furthermore, they fulfill several tasks. The main function is to safeguard occupants who need protection. But side rails are also essential for occupants to achieve individual independence. Moreover, they should also give occupants a feeling of security by defining the outer limits of their bed. And finally, the use of side rails is important when carrying out nursing procedures at working height. The above-mentioned conditions result in certain requirements for side rails. They must be extremely sturdy and designed so that they cannot cause any injury when in use. They should not be in full length design, but in two parts, thus providing the possibility to arrange them as required. It should be possible to raise them gradually to several positions - again as required. And when not in use, they should not impair the attachment of peripheral devices. Völker 3080 healthcare beds fulfil all these requirements. Originally an innovation by Völker, the two-part side rails, or assist rails, are directly integrated into the lying surface. This means that the assist rails can virtually not be seen when not in use, because they hide away below the lying surface. That way the assist rails never disturb or impair the attachment of accessories to the slide rails and can thus be easily set up directly. But Völker assist rails have still some further benefits which is why they have been patented. On the one hand, there is their practical total design, but there is also their outer sturdiness on the other. This sturdiness makes them safe assist rails which not only provide safety to occupants, but also promote their individual independence. And very important: The shape, dimensions, clearances and gap widths of these assist rails fully comply with current and emerging norms, guidelines and harmonisations of standards. Völker assist rails are divided into four sections so that they can be used in a variety of possible configurations, as required. The two-part assist rails of Völker healthcare beds are split in the middle to form a central opening that is wide enough for occupants to leave the bed unaided. This design avoids accidents which might easily occur when occupants try to climb over full length side rails. They can be raised to two positions according to the degree of protection required - maximizing occupants safety. When raised to the low position, the rails provide a bed edge indicator and an ideal assist. When raised to the high position, the rails provide additional protection. And finally, the four sections of the Völker assist rails automatically reposition during lying surface adjustment - maintaining the required protection in all lying surface positions, as well as when changing position. If appropriate - for example, in the case of mentally compromised occupants - the central opening can be completely closed by means of a slide-in spacer. Assist rails on healthcare beds are always a sensible feature if their design is absolutely safe, if they do not endanger occupants, and if they can always provide protection that is necessary in the individual case. And if they with all that provide as much freedom as possible. |
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