Customer Care

• It will be necessary for a qualified healthcare professional to carry out an assessment to determine what style of sling is suitable for the patient
• Once a suitable product has been selected, it can be manufactured in polyester mesh, which will allow the water to drain more quickly

• Most full-body, divided-leg slings will have enough ‘aperture’ to allow for a hygiene transfer, although clothing would have to be removed prior to the application
• If more access is required, a toilet/access sling could be considered subject to thorough risk assessment, however, this style of sling offers limited support, so the patient must have good upper body/hip strength

• Check to see if the largest standard size is suitable in the style required
• All standard slings are available up to size XXL (SWL 220kg/35 Stone)
• If a standard size is not suitable an assessment will be required. Contact us at silvalea.com/customer-care

• Check patient can weight bear as a stand aid is an aid to stand ONLY
• Check hoist fixings
• Refer to the website for stand aid choices. If this is for a standing harness, refer to the website for options here

• NO sling should remain under a patient all day
• Only careful consideration by a qualified healthcare professional will decide whether to leave the sling under the person for extended periods while they remain sitting in a chair or on a bed
• A proper care plan must be established based on clinical best practices. A full risk assessment must include regular inspection of pressure points and repositioning
• A sling DOES NOT have pressure relieving properties
• Consideration must be given if the patient is using a pressure care product and what impact a sling would have on its properties

• NO
• A toilet sling is structured, has padding throughout and stiffeners that will be too bulky to remain in place for extended periods
• If the patient has enough core strength to cope with a toileting sling, a sling can easily be removed

• NO. Detachable tapes are no longer available on standard In-situ sling

Detachable tapes will be considered on a tailor-made product but must be specifically requested following a risk assessment & disclaimer

• Sling pockets are discouraged as once the sling tape is enclosed there is considerable bulk and potential for pressure
• An alternative would be look at the Silva Safety Slot® tapes that are more streamline than loops and will easily fold

• Determine what style of sling is most appropriate for the patient
• Locate the sling on the website and check Sizing Guide
• A Silvalea E-Assessment can be carried out to assist with custom sizing or tailor made slings

• Visually check the sling before each use, paying attention to all lifting straps and ensuring that the sling label is clearly legible
• Follow LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) guidelines if operating within the UK. For rest of the world, please refer to operational regulations within your designated jurisdiction
• Refer to the Instructions of Use

• It is a legal requirement that all lifting equipment must be visibly marked with appropriate information i.e. SWL/size etc
• If the safety information is not legible the sling should be withdrawn from use

• Check the size is correct
• Check style is suitable
• Check the sling has been applied correctly
• Check legs sections are not too long
• Check correct tapes have been applied
• If the patient is still slipping, do not use it and arrange a re-assessment with a qualified healthcare professional

• This will depend on how well the sling is looked after and how often it is used
• Always follow the laundering and care guide given for the sling

• Fading will occur if the sling is laundered incorrectly
• Strong biological or non-biological detergents will have bleaching/whitening agents which will cause fading
• Always use a good quality non-biological washing detergent
• High exposure to drying temperatures will also cause accelerated wear
• Chemicals within a swimming pool/hydro pool can cause fading. The product should be appropriately washed after each use

Follow guidelines on the sling label & care advice within the Instructions of Use

• View our Compatibility Statement here on our downloads web page