You never know when an emergency would strike you. In such situations, you need to make sure that you are equipped with proper evacuation equipment. Then you will be able to use evacuation equipment to safety and comfortably evacuate people. In fact, such equipment can provide much-needed assistance at the time of evacuating people who are disabled or who struggle with temporary disabilities. From this article, we will be sharing you with different types of evacuation equipment available out there.
What is an evacuation chair?
A person may be evacuated while sitting using an evacuation chair, while laying down can be done with an evacuation mattress or sheet. Stretchers, slide mattresses, evacuation cables, evacuation aprons, evacuation ladders, and evacuation mats are just a few of the many evacuation aids that are available to help in moving people.
What are the features you can find in an evacuation chair?
The shortest approach to evacuate in an area where no one is inconvenienced is using an evacuation chair, which can be controlled by one person and is ready for use in only a few seconds. The Escape Mobility Company’s evacuation chairs, known as Escape-Chair®, include a number of options to improve the comfort offered by it.
- Double backrest with ergonomics
- Armrests and a footrest for comfort
- Couched seat
All stairways can accommodate evacuation chairs; spiral staircases and steps with an angle of more than 40 degrees are exceptions. Although it is feasible to flee alone, we usually advise evacuating in pairs.
Additionally, there is an electrically powered version of the evacuation chair. When electronic assistance is required for the evacuation or rescue of individuals on stairs, both up and down the steps, this type is appropriate.
Evacuation mattresses
In our experience, individuals prefer to be evacuated while sitting down, but there are certain situations when using an evacuation chair is just not an option. Then, evacuation mattresses are a very good substitute. A patient is essentially dragged away from his immediate surroundings using an evacuation or drag mattress. All sorts of staircases are ideal for evacuation mats. However, you must always make a two-person evacuation.
What are the features of an evacuation mattress?
The majority of places where people get health care, such hospitals, nursing homes, and care facilities, employ evacuation sheets. They are perfect for removing those who are bedridden. The hospital bed’s mattress, covered by an evacuation sheet, is used during the evacuation. On all kinds of stairs, an evacuation sheet may be utilized for both vertical and horizontal evacuation.
Equipment for Emergencies in Wet Environments
Emergency tools including rescue rings, ropes, boards for retrieving divers from the water, and stretchers must be easily available. There must be enough oxygen on hand and available for usage until emergency medical services show there. Forced ventilation is utilized for unconscious divers. To prevent harm to the victim’s lungs when it is employed, this system must include an overpressure release valve. Every relevant safety precaution must be followed, including refraining from touching exposed electrical connections or grease, as is the case with all oxygen systems.
Defibrillators should not be used in moist situations for the safety of support staff. If a cardiac arrest has to be treated, the patient must be taken to a dry location where it is safe to use a defibrillator.
A hyperbaric chamber must be reachable for a diving operation within a short time frame, like 1 hour, from the time and place of any possible occurrences. If there isn’t a hyperbaric chamber nearby, it’s important to learn and practice how to get an injured subject to the closest operating chamber. These chambers must also undergo regular assessments to guarantee their accessibility in an emergency.
In certain circumstances, helicopter transportation could be necessary. If so, there must be a designated landing area close to the site of the diving activity that is clear of impediments, and staff members must be appropriately trained to communicate with the helicopter crew. The helicopter must not fly more than 300 meters (1000 feet) above the ground in cases of decompression sickness.
Getting ready with correct equipment and resources for emergencies
To adequately begin and support the emergency response measures, enough emergency equipment and resources, communication systems, and documentation such as procedures, checklists, phone numbers, and manuals should be accessible when required. Communication and data transmission requirements must be met.
Instruments, tools, equipment, documents, and communication systems that will be utilized in crises should be suitable and kept in excellent working order in a way that makes it unlikely that they will become unavailable due to the emergency and environmental circumstances that are assumed to exist. Vehicles, communications, and other devices should all undergo routine inspection and testing.
Ensuring emergency preparedness is a must as well
The team should be taught on a variety of emergency equipment and procedure categories. Which are:
- Warnings, cautions, and alarms.
- Fire and smoke, such as where to find smoke detectors, gas masks, extinguishing tools, and fire suppression ports, as well as how to put out a fire, including using the dump command to purge the environment of an isolated module.
- First aid, such as a crew health care system with techniques for CPR, a stable stretcher, intravenous injection dosages, etc.
- Tools for gathering and disinfecting potable water, as well as shelter, radio, beacons, and fire.
- Environmental protection against wet, dry, cold, or hot settings like the sea, snow, or desert, with appropriate clothing for each.
- Defense against signaling by animals.
Final words
Get ready with right evacuation equipment as needed. Prepare the crew to handle emergency situations, i.e., those needing urgent action to guarantee crew survival, if all preventative, corrective, and recovery safety measures have been exhausted or if time does not permit a sudden contingency to be managed. For the crew to have instinctive answers should an incident arise, emergency response training must be practiced aboard on a regular and repeated basis.
