A scales to have faith in
The seca 959, a chair scale, has been designed by seca gmbh & co. kg, Hamburg, Germany, with input from experts, to accommodate patients with mobility or other problems. It is not only easy for patients and nurses to use, but, as the firm explains, ` practically eliminates body contact, which patients of Islamic faith in particular find unpleasant and try to avoid.´
The adjustable footrests are unique: they can be turned to the side or tucked completely under the chair seat, giving a patient plenty of foot room and a sure foothold when taking a seat. ‘The adjustable footrests also eliminate the danger of the caregiver’s banging a patient’s Achilles tendon or ankle when wheeling the chair scale into place from behind a patient.’ Each footrest can also be adjusted separately, allowing one foot at a time to be placed on the supports after the patient is seated.
In addition, the swivel armrests can be moved aside when a patient is being transferred from a bed or wheelchair on to the chair scale. Nurses who tend patients with hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body) and hemiparesis (partial paralysis of one side of the body) appreciate this labour-saving function, seca explains.
The seca 959 (Class III calibrated) weighs patients up to 150 kilograms in 50-gram increments and from 200 kilograms with a graduation of 100 grams. The operating and display element has easy-to-read 20 mm high LCD figures. The ‘hold’ function keeps the measured weight on display after the patient has left the scale. The caregiver can attend to the patient first and then note the weight.
The model also provides a body mass index (BMI) function. The patient’s height is entered, weight determined and, at the touch of a button, the BMI is calculated.
Though small and lightweight, the battery operated scale is robust and also highly manoeuvrable even in tight spaces.
01.09.2008
