subject: Low Air Loss Mattress - What Are They For? [print this page] Low air loss mattresses are used for patients who may be in the bed for long periods of time. Staying on a regular mattress makes patients develop bedsores. A patient using a low air loss mattress will help to prevent bed sores. In some cases, they can even cure bed sores. Low air loss mattresses take the pressure off of a patient's body. The way it's made helps to prevent humidity and moisture from gathering in the bed. It's also designed to evenly distribute the weight of a patient. This is how it helps cure bed sores. They are also very comfortable for the patient. They are portable, inflatable and come with layers of foam. They can be used on any type of bed frame.
A low air loss mattress can actually prevent death. How? Bed sores, or pressure ulcers, occur when there is unrelieved pressure in parts of the body. This is why patients who are bedridden are frequently turned over. If the pressure gets to be too much, the ulcers can become an added health problem. This can result in death under extreme circumstances. This is why patients who can't move or aren't mobile are placed on low air loss mattresses. It keeps blood circulating through the body without added strain, and keeps the patient healthy. This makes it easier to care for them.
Sometimes doctors recommend low air loss mattresses for the continuing care of a patient who is confined to his home. If this recommendation was made, you may have some questions about how to use and care for a low air mattress. First, low air mattresses are not expensive. You can find one at a very reasonable price. Most major retailers carry them. Second, air loss mattresses are easy to use. You pump them full of air, just like any other air mattress. It may take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes to fill the mattress completely. The cells inside of the air mattress can hold the air for 24 hours in case there is a power failure.
Third, low air loss mattresses are very easy to clean. You can clean the hose and the bed with a damp cloth and any type of mild soap. When cleaning the bed, clean the cells as well as the mattress itself. Allow for it to air dry before using it. Air drying usually takes a few hours, depending on the temperature of your home.
