The ResQmat is an evacuation mat, designed to safely evacuate and rescue a non-ambulant person from a building in an emergency situation. The Evacuee may be in a wheelchair or they may not be able to walk down stairs, if the lifts are not available due to fire or an electrical failure.
FEATURES
- Completely encloses the legs and arms. This prevents people from reaching out whilst being rescued, and possibly impeding the rescue.
- Strong, thick Hook & Loop Tape straps.
- Padded head pillow protects the head when going down stairs.
- Full length mini mattress protects the body when going down stairs.
- Automatically fits to size.
The ResQmat is a bright yellow/gold colour with bright green Pulling Straps to stand out in poor light conditions. The yellow Storage Bag and Pulling Straps have some Hi Vis Tape made to Australian Standard 906.4. Many fires start at night. If the electricity is turned off, Rescuers need to find the ResQmat in poor light. Outside of the building, the bright colours and reflective tape will help the outside Rescuers see the ResQmat coming. This allows them to assist evacuation away from the building.
In any building over two storeys high, if there is a power failure or a fire, the electricity is turned off and the lifts or elevators then cannot be used. It is difficult and probably impossible, for people in wheelchairs or using Zimmer Frames or walking sticks, to walk down stairs. The ResQmat can be used in office buildings, theatres, libraries, hospitals, schools, etc. Even if a wheelchair user does not work in the building, a visitor who does use a wheelchair may be in the building when there is a power failure or fire, and they will not be able to use the stairs to evacuate. When not in use, the ResQmat can hang from a hook or be stored in a cupboard, ready to use when an evacuation mat is necessary.
It is important that all staff have manual handling training in using the ResQmat, so they will know how to use it in an emergency. When training, it may be better to stop the training by the escape door, because if the ResQmat is dragged across a driveway, the bottom surface may be scratched beyond repair. Proposed escape routes should be trialed for evacuation in different directions depending on where the fire may start. It may be necessary to move some furniture to allow more room to move.