Aurora, Colo., and Westfield, Ind. - Every year, 6 million children are transported via ambulance in the U.S. With the introduction of the SafeGuard Transport in April 2007, these young patients can ride more safely in the first cot-mounted ambulance restraint that transports children of a wide range of sizes, from 22 to 100 pounds. Two leading emergency medical services journals recognized the SafeGuard Transport as a valuable new resource for emergency response workers.
The SafeGuard Transport was selected as one of the JEMS 2007 Hot Product items in the Journal of Emergency Services and was selected as a 2007 EMS Expo Top Pick and a 2007 Readers Choice Top 100 Pick by Emergency Medical Services.
“We’re thrilled that this product is being recognized as the valuable resource that it is for emergency care workers,” said Dave Kaler, Sales Director for the SafeGuard Division. “The SafeGuard Transport gives medical workers the assurance that their young patients are safely and properly secured, allowing them to do their job more effectively.”
The Children’s Hospital in Colorado, the fourth-ranked pediatric hospital in the U.S., successfully tested the product for the first time Sept. 29 in 10 of its ambulances when moving 185 patients to its new location on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colo.
Karen Percell, Clinical Coordinator for the Flight for Life Colorado team, was responsible for the SafeGuard Transport restraints on the day of the move.
“The restraint system was simple to use, easy to clean and comfortable, making the move an occasion of smiles and fun for our patients,” said Percell. “The ambulance personnel said they felt ensured that their patients were restrained appropriately for the entire trip.”
The SafeGuard Transport is ambulance safety for kids. This innovative restraint folds out on the ambulance cot and moves with the backrest to accommodate multiple positions from horizontal to 70 degrees, allowing easy access to the child. One operation tightens the harness and adjusts the height, securing the child within seconds in a 5-point restraint. The lightweight SafeGuard Transport stows in space-limited storage areas, with color-coded webbing and snap hooks that make attachment to cots quick and easy. The sealed vinyl pad is impervious to body fluids and is designed to facilitate easy cleaning.
Developed in collaboration with Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, the product meets a currently unserved need, as most current ambulance cot-mounted restraints offer protection only for children weighing up to 40 pounds. As a result, many children are placed in adult-sized restraints or simply seated in the arms of a parent during transport. The SafeGuard Transport is available through select distributors Jan. 1, 2008.
About SafeGuard
SafeGuard has been the leader in child passenger protection for more than 25 years and is the largest child seating safety products manufacturer in the world. With its own state-of-the-art crash test facility, in-house certified child passenger safety technicians, and engineers who are experts in their field, SafeGuard is working to achieve one goal: to provide the most advanced protection for children. For more information about the SafeGuard Transport, visit safeguardEMS.com, or call 800-985-3974.
About IMMI
SafeGuard and LifeGuard Technologies are divisions of IMMI, a world leader in occupant protection, based in Westfield, Indiana. The company produces hundreds of products for various sectors, including the commercial vehicle, fire/EMS, child seating and school bus industries. LifeGuard Technologies is best known in the fire industry for the RollTek® advanced rollover protection system for fire apparatus. IMMI is a privately held, international company that tests to U.S., European and Australian standards and is ISO 9001:2000 certified. For more information, visit imminet.com.