OT: Seatbelts for ECVs

[Deb & Bill]

This is a bit OT, but I work in a hospital (Engineering Dept) and was in a meeting with other staff including one of our docs. He has a patient who is having difficulty staying on his ECV. The doc was wondering if there were seatbelts available for them. The doc is concerned that the patient may be falling off on purpose and not using the arm rests in a lowered position. This is not a for-profit hospital. Any help for me here? Not meaning get anyone upset, just asking for some help to give to the doc.

[SueM in MN]

I can answer from a Nursing standpoint.
ECVs don't usually have seatbelts because the people who are using them are usually at least somewhat able to walk and get on and off the ecv.
A medical equipment company would be able to get a seatbelt that could be installed on an ecv - there are many styles of seatbelts available for wheelchairs that would probably work. But, if the patient is falling off on purpose, he would probably not use the seatbelt. If he's forgetting to fold down the armrests, he's likely to forget to use the seatbelt too.

The final piece is, if the seatbelt can be easily opened by the patient, it's OK, but if he can't open it easily (or thinks he can't), then it is considered a restraint. There are many rules about use of restraints. If the patient is getting out of the ecv and then falling, an alternative to a seatbelt might be alarms that can be used to go off when he starts to get up. Those can prevent falls because they alert someone that the patient is getting up (and often remind the patient not to get up when he hears the alarm).

Hope this helps.

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks, Sue.

[SueM in MN]

You're welcome. Wish I had a better answer for you.