The purpose of this study is to measure peak skin interface pressures and the total area of the body exposed to skin interface pressure above 30 mm Hg at different areas of the body in the supine position on two different support surfaces applied to a standard North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) litter (NSN: 6530-01-380-7309) and a Raven 90C Litter (NSN6530-01-432-5114). The Raven 90C is the official litter for the U.S. Navy. It is approved for flight on United States Air Force (USAF) aircraft. It can be easily folded for storage and transport to remote settings. The support surfaces are the Warrior Evacuation Litter Pad (WELP) and the Dolphin Fluid Immersion Simulation Stretcher System (FIS). In theory, mattresses that reduce and/or minimize pressure on the capillary bed's perfusion can help reduce pressure related injury such as pressure or decubitus ulcer development. Skin interface pressure measurements using a pressure mapping system and transcutaneous oxygenation readings will allow us to determine these differences between support surfaces. A better understanding of skin interface pressure associated with the litter support surfaces is vital for military nurses to develop and implement preventative interventions to reduce pressure ulcer development in our patients. In addition, this study will provide information to help determine the usefulness and feasibility of incorporating the fluid immersion system (FIS) as a litter support surface.~This research protocol has one major aim:~To determine the difference in the pressure redistribution qualities between the WELP and the Dolphin FIS~There are also two secondary aims:~To determine the difference in the pressure redistribution qualities of the WELP when used as the mattress on the NATO litter and Raven litter.~To determine the difference in the pressure redistribution qualities of the Dolphin FIS when used as the mattress on the NATO litter and Raven litter.
The purpose of this study is to measure peak skin interface pressures and the total area of the body exposed to skin interface pressure above 30 mm Hg at different areas of the body in the supine position on two different support surfaces applied to a standard North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) litter (NSN: 6530-01-380-7309) and a Raven 90C Litter (NSN6530-01-432-5114). The support surfaces are the Warrior Evacuation Litter Pad (WELP) and the Dolphin Fluid Immersion Simulation Stretcher System (FIS). These pressure measurements and transcutaneous oxygenation readings will allow us to determine differences between support surfaces.