Slings and other lifting accessories are a key part of the extensive range of patient lifting equipment that Active Mobility supplies. Patient Lifting Slings is an essential equipment when lifting people, from chairs, beds or floors. To choose the right sling for a participant can often be difficult. There are many factors that needs to be considered when choosing a patient lifting sling.
Active Mobility Systems has the widest range of patient lifting slings in NSW and in Australia. We stock Australian manufactured brands such as Allegro Concepts and also European brand Silvalea. Active Mobility Systems also has access to other manufactured sling brands, including Invacare, K Care, Handicare and Molift.
Patient Lifting slings comes in 2 main varieties - General Purpose slings and Pivot Slings.
GENERAL PURPOSE SLINGS
General Purpose slings are attached to a standard yoke with a number of loops. A standard yoke might also be called as a spreader bar or coat hanger. Variation on the standard yoke is the four-point yoke which is great to use for bariatric clients as the straps are spread wider. To achieve an upright position in any general purpose sling, remember the golden rule, which is the best position when transferring to a wheelchair:
SHORT ON THE SHOULDERS - LONG ON THE LEGS.
A standard yoke or Spreader bar will give a wider choice of slings than pivot frame.
PIVOT SLINGS
Pivot slings must be attached to a pivot frame with 4 key-hole-clips. A pivot frame may be alternatively known as a tilt frame, Y yoke or a wish bone. Positioning in a pivot frame is achieved by manipulation of the handle. This is beneficial mostly when a lot of different carers are involved with a client. Pivot slings might not be suitable to certain patients. From our - AMS - experience, we do not recommend slings to be used on very small kids (slings tend to spread too wide), people with poor sitting balance who tend to fall forward and patients with spinal injuries as it might be too difficult to achieve a good sitting position due to lack of muscle tone.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A PATIENT LIFTING SLING FOR PATIENT?
When prescribing a sling, consider following:
- The weight of your client. (Take into account, that most slings have a higher lifting capacity than will physically fit into them).
- The seated height of your client. By comparing this with sling dimensions you will see whether a particular sling will provide enough upper body support.
- The posterior girth of your client. This will give some indication of required sling width.
- Your client's particular disability (spinal injury, amputation, cerebral palsy).
- Your client's skin integrity - special fabric may be required.
There are some common requests we have noticed when our customers purchasing slings. These requests might include:
- A sling that can stay in place for client's in moulded wheelchairs
- A sling that can be used for showering or bathing
- A sling that can provide access for toileting/ hygiene
Active Mobility Systems offers the widest range of patient liftng slings. Our stock includes General Purpose Slings, Pivot Slings, Hygiene Slings, Amputee Slings, Paediatric Slings, Rehabilitation Slings, In-Situ Slings, Hydrotherapy Slings, Specialised Slings. We also keep in our store Single Patient Use Slings and are able to arrange Custom Made Slings or copy already discontinued slings.
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