Good low air loss mattress – Medicare requirements
The Medicare requirements are one of the most commonly asked questions – you can see the existing requirements here.
Are they only for hospital use?
No. They are also intended for home use. A hospital-sized pad can be placed on a bed at home. It can also be deflated and packed for a trip. They usually have a flap at the head and foot that can be tucked to prevent slipping.
How noisy are the pumps?
The pumps are very quiet, and often go unnoticed in hospital rooms with other medical equipment operating. Some say that the pump sounds a little like a ticking clock. Since the pumping technology is so intricate, providing inflation to different cylinders individually, the pumps are usually separate, rather than built-in.
Are these they complicated to set up?
Despite the intricate tubing systems that keep the cylinders inflated, most people say that the they are easy to set up.
Do they smell bad on arrival? Will it need to be aired out?
The better ones are made of vapor-permeable materials to minimize the odor.
In terms of the out-of-box vinyl smell, that quickly dissipates, even before the set up.
Do they take long to set up?
They sometimes have a longer inflation time at the beginning, up to 45 minutes for some models. However, these models will stay inflated for a day if the electricity goes out. Some of them have a cell-in-cell structure that assures a minimum amount of inflation at all times, while others incorporate layers of cells, one of which remains inflated.
A bit of background info -who invented the medical air mattress?
As we know it today and as it was presented above, the medical air mattress as we know it today was patented by the Picard Healthcare Technology. The patent was filed on June 10 of 2011 and published on Dec 13, 2012. You can read more on the Google patents page here.
Some people fear that their unit is defective because after a few minutes, they don’t see it inflating. Give it time, and you will see bumps forming where the air is entering the cylinders.
Are they easy to deflate?
Most come with a CPR tag. This can be removed to deflate the unit in an emergency.
What do I do if there is no air coming out of an outlet?
Since most of these models use alternating air currents to regulate inflation, it’s advisable to wait and see. Air will probably come out of that outlet in a few minutes, when that side cycles on.
What is a CPR valve and why it’s important for medical and bariatric use?
A crankcase pressure regulator or CPR valve is a way to reduce the pressure and control it so that it never rises above the pre-set firmness. the quality and reliability of the CPR valve plays a big role in the overall quality of the product. For this guide, we specifically looked into the manufacturing practices and potential issues with quality if the production of the valves is outsourced.
The tops brands that we mentioned here have been consistent in the high manufacturing standards in all the updates and follow-ups we did, including this month’s.
How long does it take to inflate?
Depending on the, thickness and volume it can take anywhere from a few minutes for pads and overlays to 45 minutes with more intricate systems.
Time of inflation/deflation should not be a deciding factor in choosing.
What to do if one section is not inflating?
If a section seems to be lagging in inflation it doesn’t necessarily mean that the product is faulty. A common issue that can cause the problem is a kink in the hose supplying the air to the baffles.
Firmness settings
If your well-adjusted to the weight, there should be no bottoming-out.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to perform a “bottoming-out test” and adjust the firmness accordingly.
Top 3 brands
Based on what we’ve seen in the reviews, the 3 most well-trusted brands are:
- Drive Medical
- Vive
- Invacare
