ResQpod

The ResQpod is designed to safely evacuate 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.

The ResQpod 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 ResQpod in poor light. Outside of the building, the bright colours and reflective tape will help the outside Rescuers see the ResQpod 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 ResQpod can be used in office buildings, theatres, libraries, hospitals, schools, etc. Even if a wheelchair user does not work in the building, a wheelchair user 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 ResQpod can hang from a hook or be stored in a cupboard, ready to use when an evacuation is necessary.

This item is not suitable for most spiral staircases.

To Use

Take the ResQpod to the Patient. Remove the strap that is around the ResQpod and unfold the ResQpod.

When putting the Patient on top of the ResQpod, place their head on the pillow with their shoulders close to the edge of the pillow.

The methods outlined below are only some suggested ways of getting the Patient onto the ResQpod. Your manual handling advisor may have a better suggestion for this task.

If the Patient is in bed

Log roll the Evacuee onto the ResQpod. If their head is not on the pillow, the Rescuers can slide the Evacuee up into position.

If the Patient is in a chair

Place the ResQpod on the floor in front of the chair with the pillow near the Patient’s feet. If they are in a wheelchair, apply the brakes, remove the foot plates or swing them out of the way. Lift the Patient’s legs to pull them, so they slide down into the ResQpod. This is easier if a second Carer can hold the Patient under the arms to help them slide, remember this is only used for an emergency evacuation. It also may be possible to stand the Patient and have the ResQpod near the chair to lay the Patient onto the ResQpod. There may not be enough Carers, so always ask your Manual Handling Advisor to learn a safe method for patients and Carers.

When the Patient is on the ResQpod

Place the Evacuee’s arms on their stomachs, or hands on their laps and do up the Hook & Loop firmly. Do up the Hook & Loop around the upper and lower legs or around the feet of shorter Evacuees.

Attach the Orange Length Adjusting Strap to the Shoulder Strap. Pull the Length Adjusting Strap to shorten the length of the ResQpod. The shorter ResQpod is more secure for the Evacuee, and is easier to manoeuvre going around corners, and on stair landings. There are two Carry Handles on each side for lifting the ResQpod up off the ground (Requires 4-6 rescuers).

The Patient should be pulled clear of the building to a designated muster area approved by your facility.

It is important that all staff have manual handling training in using the ResQpod, 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 ResQpod 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.

Maintenance

We recommend you inspect annually, to ensure vermin have not caused any damage. The direction of the corrugations on the plastic board means that it is not necessary to unroll it every few months.

The full range of ResQproduct options are listed below. Click here to view the Features List for the range of Pelican evacuation devices.

	ResQsheet	Stored under the Patient’s mattress on the bed and is ready to use, with the Patient then evacuated with their mattress. Slides well on most vinyl floors.
	ResQsheet for Vinyl & Carpet	Same as the ResQsheet above, but with a built-in white plastic slide board underneath. Slides well on all floor surfaces including Vinyl & Carpet.
	ResQsheet for Vinyl & Carpet – King Single	A special version of our ResQsheet for Vinyl & Carpet, made to fit king single size beds, and can also be used with pressure care air-flow mattresses.
	ResQme	This is kept in storage and taken to a Patient who needs to be evacuated. A budget option evacuation device.
	ResQpod	Same as the ResQme above, but with more Cross Straps to contain the Patient.
	ResQmat	Same as the ResQme and ResQpod above, but with a built-in mini-mattress for comfort, and the side material can enclose the Patient.
	ResQslide Board & Chair Strap Kit	The ResQslide Board & Chair Strap Kit is used to slide someone from a wheelchair to an evacuation device on the floor, such as the ResQmat, ResQpod or ResQme which can slide down stairs.