Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), United Kingdom, has issued a medical device safety alert concerning all posture or safety belts fitted to supportive seating, wheelchairs, hoists and bathroom equipment.
MHRA receives reports of injuries and fatalities because posture/safety belts on assistive technology devices that are not used, fitted or adjusted properly or they have not been maintained correctly. Problems include the person in the seat slipping down and suffering positional asphyxiation or strangulation, or falling out of the seat and being injured. There is a risk of serious injury or death of the person using a posture or safety belt that is not fitted or adjusted properly. For some people a belt alone cannot keep them in an appropriate sitting position and they may need other supports to stop them slipping down (e.g. tilt-in-space or supportive seating). This alert also applies to belts referred to as pelvic, lap, seat or waist belts and also straps or harnesses.
MHRA recommends affected users to take the following actions:-
Posted on 22 April 2015