Support Surfaces for Pressure Injury Prevention

Dartex® by Trelleborg Engineered Coated Fabrics is the trusted name for Support Surface applications within Healthcare & Medical environments. 

Preventing Avoidable Pressure Ulcers / Pressure Injuries
Pressure injuries and their seemingly unstoppable increase in incidence, detrimentally affect the quality of life of thousands of patients, both in the hospital and community setting across the globe. The cost of treatment can run into the billions.

In the US alone, around 60,000 people each year die from an avoidable pressure ulcer / pressure injury.
Globally, the cost of treating a preventable pressure ulcers and injuries is massive:

US – $26.8 billion (2017).
UK – £1.4 to £2.7 billion.
EU – €334 million to £2.79 billion per country.  

Efficient and effective pressure injury prevention makes sense both in terms of patient care and comfort, as well as lessening the economic consequences for healthcare providers. 
Choosing the right material for your support surface can play a part in helping to reduce long term costs of care by contributing to optimum patient outcomes

Medical support surface fabrics with immersion, envelopment and breathability properties are key factors in pressure ulcer / pressure injury prevention(5).

Dartex® brand fabrics have been a feature of the medical mattress market globally for over 40 years. Their unique stretch properties provide immersion and envelopment for patient comfort, and the polyurethane coating allows breathability for cool skin.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Sources: 

Lyder, C. (2003). “Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management.” Journal of American Medical Association 289: 223-226.
& fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx accessed December 2019
Dealey C, Posnett J, Walker A. J Wound Care. 2012 Jun;21(6):261-2, 264, 266. 
European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel Conference 2015; Schoonhoven, L. 
Support Surface Cover and Core: Working Together In Sweet Harmony. R. Haxby et al 2016

• Cleaning Guidance for Support Surfaces
• Healthcare & Medical Product Range
• It’s All About the Base
• Support Surface Cover & Core: Working Together in Sweet Harmony
• UV Printing
• Why Choose PU over PVC?