S P E C I A LT Y H E A LT H C A R E P R O D U C TS B U L L E T I N
COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS BACKED BY TECHNICAL SUPPORT
H E A L T H C A R E S O L U T I O N S
H E A L T H C A R E S O L U T I O N S
R EVIS E D FEBRUARY 2005
A RANGE OF FOAMS FOR HEALTHCARE APPLICATIONS
Dunlop Foams has developed a range of foams proven to
be appropriate and beneficial for healthcare applications in
hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and the home environment.
Dunlop foams, used as single grades or in appropriate
combinations, provide pressure reduction, comfort and
support when used in healthcare mattresses, cushions,
wedges, bolsters and other support devices.
Dunlop Foams sales and technical support staff have
developed specialist expertise in the healthcare sector and
work with industry specialists, consultants and mattress
and accessory manufacturers to develop finished products.
We have testing facilities and protocols to measure pressure
relieving and support properties and have established general
guidelines for foam use, appropriate foam combinations and
foam profiling. Dunlop Foams supplies foam in blocks or sheets
or as fully fabricated mattress, cushion, wedge and other cores.
PRESSURE ULCERS AND HEALTHCARE IN AUSTRALIA
Pressure ulcers (decubitus ulcers) are largely preventable
hospital-acquired injuries of the skin and underlying tissues
of fascia, muscle and bone. In the majority of cases they can
be regarded as an adverse outcome of a healthcare admission.
Many national and international healthcare agencies acknowledge
that pressure ulcers not only affect the health of the individual
but also place a significant drain on already stretched
health resources.
Key data relating to the prevalence and impact of pressure
ulcers in Australia are listed below:
for the period 1997-2000, abs recorded that 1,293
people had died with pressure ulcers identified as
either the primary or secondary cause of death
in 1999, pressure ulcer morbidity was estimated to
affect 60,000 people per annum