About Strapus
The Safe Transport Restraining Apparatus Unison System (Strapus) Harness is an innovative patient-restraining system designed for use in all emergency transportation scenarios. Strapus was created to increase patient and medic safety and provide better patient outcomes. Strapus does this by disrupting combative patients from easily unbuckling themselves while medical professionals administer life-saving care. Also, Strapus’ revolutionary shoulder harness safely secures patients during transportation while simultaneously allowing full unobstructed access to the abdomen, chest, and neck. Strapus Harness utilizes wireless technology on the buckles to obstruct patient’s ability to unbuckle mid-transport, and state of the art ergonomic design to safely and securely transport patients. The design and technology provide the patient with a comfortable and safe restraint, securing the patient with a leg strap, hip harness, and shoulder harness. Strapus Harness will create safer, more reliable EMS transportation for everyone.
Since the invention of the seat belt equipped ambulance cot medics have consistently run into the same problems:
- Straps don’t safely secure the patient
- Straps that do secure the patient are difficult to use and obstruct vital areas like the abdomen, chest, and neck
…There are also numerous medical scenarios where medics must interact with the combative patient; a patient who struggles due to confusion, substance related issues, dementia etc. In these situations a patient’s “go to” move is to unbuckle their seat belt.
By doing this EMS professionals are put in the position of managing a patient’s behavior, rather than focusing on administering the life-saving care the patient needs.
Does that scenario sound familiar to you? If so, you may have found yourself attempting to safely secure your patient to the ambulance cot in order to prevent him/her from hurting themselves, or you, so that you can perform your job effectively. Have you tried this common “solution”?
Chemical restraints like:
- Haldol
- Versed
- Ketamine
- Ativan
These powerful chemical sedatives are a useful option in a pinch however, medics like you know that administering chemical restraints isn’t always easy in a struggle and, without knowing how the patient will respond to the sedative being injected into them, it can be dangerous to use this method.
The last thing that a patient under the influence needs is more powerful pharmaceuticals coursing through his veins, while some geriatric patients simply cannot handle the jarring effects of chemical restraints period.
Medics often are able to use limb restraints or hard restraints in the worst of these situations, but these solutions aren’t without issue either.
For instance, many ambulances aren’t equipped with these types of restraints or have strict protocols severely restricting their use. It is not uncommon for an ambulance to not be outfitted with true shoulder straps, let alone limb restraints, and it seems like whenever a call comes through where an extra set of hands is needed, your crew is low on man-power.
These situations and types of restraints work okay in ideal scenarios, if you have the resources, AND if you have an extra set of hands to apply them. However, this is often not the case.
Some medics have even attempted to improvise restraints with the loose equipment they have on hand. One common strategy is to turn the waist buckle over in an attempt to provide a few extra seconds to get a handle on the patient before the “cage door” is open, so to speak
.
If that doesn’t work, others have adjusted by making an X pattern with the leg restraints.
As was mentioned before, shoulder straps should be used, but sadly not all ambulances are equipped, and in many cases the shoulder restraints are bulky, difficult to use, and get in the way.
Still, these “solutions” are passable options with 2+ medics on hand, an LEO, or with ample time to prepare. The reality is, however, that EMTs are low on man power, often lack resources, and don’t have a crystal ball.
Unfortunately this means that rather than administering crucial patient care at the moment it is needed, you and the patient struggle until the drugs kick in.
It is not an exaggeration depicting the difficult truth of a patient who will not comply when equipment does not safely secure them during transportation, not to speak of the severe safety risk that transporting without proper restraints presents.
Today, medics have power cots, Bluetooth operated stair chairs, and iPads. However, restraints, harnesses, and strap belt technology has not changed in over 60 years.
There was no simple answer for solving the issues of combative patients, security, safety, and accessibility until the Strapus Harness.
The Safe Transport Restraining Apparatus Unison System (Strapus) Harness is a new patient restraining system designed for use in all emergency medical transportation scenarios that addresses all the issues listed above and more.
