2010 EMS World Innovation Awards

   The iB is by no means just three or four lines of information. Patients can have comprehensive medical histories linked to emergency contact info that is easily updated via the iB website. Invisible Bracelet service is available in all 50 states; it's just a matter of checking with invisiblebracelet.org to confirm whether this service provides coverage in your area.

   Visit www.invisiblebracelet.org; call 918/592-3722.

StatBand EMS tag from LaserBand, LLC

   You only need to work one decent-size mass casualty event (mine was a 60-mph head-on train wreck involving 250 patients) to immediately understand the challenges of triaging, tagging and tracking multiple patients and all of their belongings.

   Thanks to the folks at LaserBand and their work bringing StatBand EMS tag to our world, the task of tracking people and belongings is now easier and more reliable than ever.

   StatBand offers four tag options including: evacuation wristbands to keep track of families in case of separation during an emergency evacuation; rapid ID wristband tags for everyday response use in situations where preprinted and uniquely bar-coded labels help caregivers identify and track family, pets, luggage, etc.; triage wristband tags, which feature a standard four-part triage tag, 12 individual barcode tags and a yellow "NOT DECON'D" identification tag for large casualty events; and EMS wristband tags to be used as a triage tag, with six additional barcode tags.

   Each of the four stock StatBand tags is made of patented one-piece construction for quick assembly. Using advanced water- and abrasive-resistant three-ply construction assures the StatBand will perform under the most harsh emergency scene conditions.

   All tags come bundled in groups of 25 with an easy clip-on belt fastener. Each tag and the self-adhesive labels are sequentially numbered with alphanumeric digits and Code 128 barcodes for quick and accurate identification and tracking.

   StatBand emergency response wristbands have an intuitive design, making them easy to use. One more thing: All StatBands products were tested in real-world scenarios to ensure the tags stay stuck to help you do your job and serve your patients better.

   Visit www.statband.com; call 800/238-0870.

Livingston Patient Transporter from Livingston Innovations

   Being sent to a "man down" call is one of the biggest crapshoots in the world of EMS dispatch. Is it a man down on the sidewalk? In his bathroom curled around the toilet? On a barroom floor among the peanut shells? The possibilities are almost endless. One of the more common variations of the man-down scenario, and arguably one of the most challenging, is the man at the bottom of a flight of stairs. In the past, getting the patient immobilized on a long board and then back up the stairs was a combination of hard work and sheer muscle power, coupled with some good luck. Sadly, that approach used no technology whatsoever to spare your back.

   Thanks to the Livingston Patient Transporter, you can kiss that brute-force approach good-bye. In just seconds, you can configure the device into a long spineboard carrier with a 600 lb. capacity. Once the patient is secured in position, just use the two lift levers and watch as the Livingston Patient Transporter's "track-and-cleat" system traverses virtually any flight of stairs or even difficult elevated terrain. While the track-and-cleat system provides the grip that holds the device, the ratchet drive mechanism works almost effortlessly, helping to prevent back and knee injuries as it incrementally moves the device and the patient upward.

   For going down stairs, the Livingston Patient Transporter still utilizes the track-and-cleat system for traction, but you control down-stair braking with just 20 lbs. of force, which ensures your patient will have a comfortable and safe lowering experience.

   Extra-large casters and easy-grip handles are people-friendly design elements, and the anti-tipping plates keep the Livingston Patient Transporter from lurching forward if the front wheels accidentally advance over the step or stair. Easy operation and an incredibly functional design of this truly exceptional product surely make the Livingston Patient Transporter a keeper!