Leuchie > Policies > Manual Handling > Use of Camel Lifting Cushion

Use of Camel Lifting Cushion

July 1, 2025

Use of Camel Lifting cushion

 

Purpose:

To assist guests off the floor safely and comfortably. This applies to guests who are not injured and who are unable to do so themselves, as identified in the Manual Handling Risk Assessment Form on their profile on PCS.

 

Procedure:

 

  • The Camel is an inflatable lifting cushion, capable of lifting guests up to a sitting position. The Safe Working Load is 320kg (50st).

 

  • The Camel and its charger is stored in the storage on the second floor. This should be put on charge prior to the start of every holiday. A step by step instruction sheet ‘Pointers when using the Camel’ is displayed on the wall above the charger.

 

  • Take the cushion out of its cover, unfold it and assist the guest to roll onto it. 

 

  • All the tubes must be connected in order to start inflation; these are colour co-ordinated to the corresponding values. 

 

  • The start button should be held down for a few seconds to start the machine. This is located on top of the unit. The yellow buttons on the top of the machine can be ignored.

 

  • On the bottom of the machine there is a flick switch between a slow inflation (blue) and a quick inflation (pink).

 

  • Inflate part 1 first (back rest). This does not have to be fully inflated; it just needs to be comfortable for the guest.

 

  • Sections 2 and 3 then need to be inflated fully. Depending on the guests’ height section 4 may also need to be inflated fully. 
  • If the guest is not in a central position during inflation a small amount of pressure can be applied to the side of the Camel to help it stay level. 

 

  • When raised to a sitting position encourage the guest to stand up. Alternatively place a chair to the side of the cushion so that the guest can side transfer onto the chair. 

 

Deflating

 

  1. Switch off the machine first
  2. Then release the pressure by holding down all the buttons on the remote for 10 seconds
  3. Then remove all tubing 
  4. The Camel deflates quicker if someone sits on it
  5. When most of the air is out, flip the camel over and put the leads into the hole, ensuring the remote is placed horizontally so that it can be rolled. 
  6. Return it to physio (Camel into cupboard, charger back on the window ledge).

 

Reviewed Mar 25 SL

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