GENERAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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WHAT IS AN EVACUSLED?
Evacusled is a simple to use, patented emergency evacuation device designed to reduce risk of injury to patients and staff during horizontal and vertical emergency evacuation. Incorporating Evacusleds into Emergency Management Planning, assist with Surge Capacity, Mass Evacuation, Patient Transport, Quality Care, and may assist with Joint Commission regulations.

HAVE EVACUSLEDS EVER BEEN USED?
Yes. Some examples are in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina to safely evacuate down 7 storeys and in December 2005 to safely evacuate a Rehabilitation facility during a fire. (see PRESS CLIPS)

HOW DOES EVACUSLED WORK?
The Evacusled cocoons the patient and mattress together. The patient, mattress and Evacusled are then rolled off the bed deck. Numerous small wheels on the underside of the Evacusled allow the rescuer to roll the Evacusled down hallways and stairwells to safety as per facility's evacuation plan.

WHY USE EVACUSLED?
It is easy for nurses to use. It involves NO lifting, only pulling (pull force is 30lbs for 195 lb patient). One person can evacuate one patient. It is fast and efficient. It is comfortable for the patient as on their mattress. The treatment surface goes with the patient along with IV, etc. The Evacusled has 5 spinal boards built in for extra protection for patient's head and spine.

ARE EVACUSLEDS COMPATIBLE WITH ALL BED DECKS?
Evacusled Standard Model is compatible with standard beds as well as many specialty beds including Zone Air and Stryker beds. Evacusled PLUS Model works with standard bed decks plus Hill-Rom VersaCare beds, etc. The Teaching Evacusled Model is available for staff training and mock drills.

CAN GRANT FUNDS SUCH AS HRSA BE USED?
Yes. HRSA funds are used in States such as California, Michigan, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Texas, Nebraska, New Jersey, etc. under Surge Capacity Benchmark. In many States we work at County, Regional, State Hospital Association and MMRS levels as well as Acute Care level and Health system wide. Many facilities also use capital, operating dollars and/or foundation dollars.

CAN YOU PROVIDE A SAMPLE OF FACILITIES WITH FULL/PARTIAL EVACUSLED COVERAGE?
Evacusleds are an integral part of Emergency Preparedness plans in Medical Centers within Healthsystems such as HCA Inc., LoneStar Health, Kaiser Permanente, Scripps Health, Henry Ford Health System, Sutter Health, Baylor Health, Tenet, etc. Evacusleds are also on VA Medical Center beds across Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Puerto Rico, Michigan, Indiana, Colorado, Missouri, California, New York, etc. Evacusleds are in Naval and Military Medical Centers and used in Rehabilitation Centers and in Long Term Care facilities.

IS EVACUSLED ON U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GSA CONTRACT?
Yes. Evacusled Inc. is sole source provider of Evacusleds.

WHO IMPLEMENTS EVACUSLED INTO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANS?
For many, it is the Safety Committee, Emergency Preparedness Committee or Disaster Preparedness Committee. For others, it is implemented as Network policy or Corporate Systemwide policy or at MMRS level, or at Regional level or State Hospital Association level.

WHERE IS EVACUSLED STORED?
Three Options; 1) Evacusled is installed directly onto the bed deck, under the mattress on designated beds. This way the Evacusled is readily accessible at any time for emergency evacuation. Some facilities store in bulk near designated stairwells. 2) Evacusled is rolled up and stored in a bag near predetermined evacuation stairwell. 3) In bulk in storage area (25 sleds in a 3'x3'x3' area). Option 1 most efficient in evacuation.

WHAT SIZE IS AN EVACUSLED?
It is 18.5 pounds and the width of a standard mattress.

DO YOU NEED AN EVACUSLED FOR EVERY BED?
No. This depends on a number of factors such as your patient population, and the physical layout of your facility, budget etc. Most sites over time aim for the ideal of about 75% coverage of their beds. Most start with Evacusleds installed under mattresses, on their highest floors and most non-ambulatory patient units. Other sites roll out with full coverage immediately as they see it as being dollars well spent from a risk management perspective. All keep a few extra Evacusleds available that are not installed, but simply stored, that can be deployed directly from the floor (versus the bed deck). This provides for additional flexibility in their EPP.

CAN ONE NURSE REALLY EVACUATE ONE PATIENT?
Yes. One staff deploys the Evacusled and rolls the patient/Evacusled from patient room to corridor. Another staff then rolls patient/Evacusled down corridor and then pass off to other rescuers who vertically evacuates down stairwells to. It is a relay system.

WHY DO NURSING STAFF LIKE EVACUSLED SO MUCH?
Evacusled is safe and easy to use. They know Evacusled lets them rescue their patients much faster and efficiently than the old blanket drag method and with lower risk of injury to rescuer. In fact, many facilities are making Evacusled evacuation training part of annual Nursing Competency.

HOW DOES EVACUSLED EVACUATE DOWN STAIRWELLS?
The Evacusled rolls on wheels and gravity does the work. One caregiver simply guides the Evacusled down the stairwells and controls the speed with a braking system built into the lower section of the Evacusled.

IS EVACUSLED FOR BARIATRIC PATIENTS?
No. It simply allows fewer staff to get more patients out quickly so that additional staff are free to give additional assistance to bariatric, vented patients, etc.

WHO GETS TRAINED?
Ideally everyone. Training Policy is site specific. Evacusled Inc. offers train the trainer in-service and intranet training modules. Many make training part of nurse competency.

HOW ARE THEY CLEANED?
Evacusleds are manufactured with antifungal antibacterial material that is mattress cover material. If installed on beds, wipe down is done at the same time that mattress is wiped down upon patient discharge. Wipe down is incorporated into existing housekeeping policies using same cleaning solvents.