DROP SUPPORT HARNESS - User Manual

DROP SUPPORT HARNESS
USER INSTRUCTION
MANUAL FOR USERS AND
ASSISTANTS
Application, Fitting, Use, and
Maintenance
Patent Pending
WARNING!
Read manual before using harness. Failure to
follow instructions could result in serious injury
or death.
Bought the Wrong Size and
Need an Exchange?
We can help, Contact US!
Contact Us:
Drop Support LLC.
Cypress, TX 77433
Email: support@dropsupports.com
Chat: www.dropsupports.com

Summary

DESCRIPTION OF PRODUCT

How it Works

Explains the mechanism of the Drop Support harness and the role of the assistant.

APPLICATION

Drop Support Hardware

Front Adjusters

Details the various adjustment points on the front of the harness for fitting.

SIZES

CARE & STORAGE

WASHING INSTRUCTIONS

Provides guidelines for cleaning the harness using mild soap and water, avoiding bleach.

STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS

Advises on storing the harness in a cool, dry environment away from sunlight and chemicals.

FITTING INSTRUCTIONS

Adjusting Shoulder Strap Buckle

Explains how to adjust shoulder straps to lower or raise the waist belt for proper fit.

CHEST STRAP: IMPORTANT STEP

Details the critical step of feeding the chest strap through the chest loop guide.

TESTING THE FIT

The overall Ideal Fit

Describes the criteria for an ideal fit, ensuring support without excessive ride-up.

DROP SUPPORT STRAP PURPOSE & CALLOUTS

Waist Belt

Explains the purpose and fitting of the waist belt for supporting user weight during falls.

Chest Strap

Details the function of the chest strap in supporting weight and maintaining upright position.

Shoulder Straps

Describes the role of shoulder straps in managing forward falls and user weight support.

Support Handle

Explains the function of the support handle in tying components together and assisting the user.

SUPPORT TECHNIQUES

Aiding in regaining users balance & stability

Outlines methods for assisting users during forward and sideways falls to regain balance.

Aiding user to the floor

Provides instructions on how to safely lower an unstable user to the floor.

LIMITATIONS

Assistant

Lists essential requirements and considerations for the assistant using the harness.

User

Specifies user requirements, including cognitive ability and weight capacity for the harness.

INSPECTION

FREQUENCY

Defines how often the harness should be inspected for safety and integrity.

INSPECTION STEPS

Outlines the detailed steps for inspecting harness hardware, webbing, and labels.

FAQS

Harness Fit Adjustment

Addresses common issues like excess slack and ride-up, providing adjustment guidance.

Sizing Questions

Clarifies how to select the correct harness size based on individual measurements.

Medical Apparatus Compatibility

Discusses using the harness with medical devices like G-Tubes or sensors.

Usage Scenarios

Covers suitability for pools, showers, elderly use, and transfers.

Overview

1. Function Description
2. Usage Features
3. Maintenance Features

The Drop Support Harness is a unique upper body harness designed to provide support and stability to users, particularly those prone to falls or instability. It wraps around the user's waist, chest, and torso, featuring a central handle that runs the length of the torso. This handle serves as a crucial point of contact between the user and an assistant, enabling the assistant to provide steadying pressure and support.

Function Description

The primary function of the Drop Support Harness is to assist users in maintaining stability and to minimize injury during falls. When a user becomes unstable or begins to fall, the assistant grasps the support handle to provide upward and inward pressure. This action helps the user regain stability in an upright position. If the user is unable to recover, the assistant can use the handle to slow their descent to the floor, thereby reducing the impact and potential for injury.

A significant benefit of this design is its ability to limit the need for direct physical contact between the assistant and the user. By channeling support through the handle, the risk of injury to the user from excessive force or pressure during a fall is reduced.

The harness is beneficial for various applications, including in-home use, medical settings, and rehabilitation. It is particularly useful for individuals with medical conditions like epilepsy that can cause falls or instability, the elderly who may be unstable, and those undergoing physical therapy or rehabilitation. It also assists with standing and patient transfers and is used in nursing homes.

Usage Features

The Drop Support Harness is designed for ease of use and adjustability to ensure a proper fit.

• Fitting Instructions:

  1. Upon removing the harness from its packaging, unfold it and unbuckle the chest and waist straps.
  2. Place the harness over the user's torso, ensuring the support handle is centered on the middle back between the shoulder blades, and the shoulder straps rest on each shoulder, similar to wearing a jacket.
  3. Waist Belt Placement: The waist belt's initial position is crucial. It can rest at the bottom of the belly/belt line (Option B) or above the belly/under the chest/bust (Option A). If it's at chest level, it should be lowered to Option A. If it's in the middle of a round belly and cannot be raised, lower it to Option B. For a flat belly, it can remain between A and B. If the waist belt rests too low with excess shoulder material, downsizing the harness should be considered. Adults can often fit into Medium/Boys & Girls sizes. It's important to avoid placing the waist belt in the middle of a round belly, as this can cause it to slip upward.
  4. Adjusting the Waist Belt: The waist belt should be adjusted and fastened snugly around the user's abdominal area, ensuring it fits securely without restricting movement. Both sides should be adjusted simultaneously. Excess strap material can be fed through the rear loophole if available. The waist and chest buckles do not necessarily need to be centered on the body.
  5. Chest Strap: This is an important step. Guide the chest straps under the armpits and through the Chest Loop Guide (silver webbing with 3-inch loop sections) across the upper chest, approximately halfway between the chest line and the collar bone. Adjust for a snug fit. It is critical not to rest the chest strap on top of the shoulder straps; it must be fed through the Chest Loop Guide, between the silver and black webbing.
  6. Support Handle Adjuster: If applicable, adjust the support handle adjuster up or down to remove excess slack. Adjusting upwards increases the harness's "response grab," while downwards decreases it.
  7. Final Check: Run hands over the harness to ensure no twisting or bunching of straps. If a strap is not lying correctly, the harness should be removed and refitted.

• Testing the Fit:

  1. After fitting, an assistant should pull upward on the support handle to ensure the harness does not ride up excessively. Some upward movement is acceptable, but it should not ride up to the chest or slip off like a shirt.
  2. If the harness rides up significantly, it should be removed and refitted.
  3. Shoulder straps may need shortening or lengthening to adjust waist belt placement. Start with Front Shoulder buckles at the smallest setting (bottom near waistbelt) and gradually increase as needed.
  4. The waist belt should rest at the top or bottom of the belly, avoiding the middle, which can cause slippage.
  5. For smaller individuals, Front Shoulder buckles may need to be kept or adjusted downward for the smallest fit, raising the waist belt slightly. For larger individuals, Front Shoulder buckles may need to be adjusted upward for a larger fit, lowering the waist belt.
  6. All body types vary, so testing and modification may be necessary to find the proper waist belt location. The harness is not meant to be "skintight"; some play is allowable.
  7. The ideal fit ensures that while holding and pulling upward on the Rear Support Handle, the waist belt and harness support the user's lower and upper body with minimal ride-up.
  8. If pulling upward on the support handle does not provide support to the user, the harness should not be used, and a different size should be considered.

• Support Techniques:

  • Falling Forward/Sideways: If the user falls forward or sideways, the assistant should grasp the uppermost part of the support handle and give a firm, smooth pull upward and towards themselves. This allows the user to rest against the assistant and regain stability.
  • Aiding User to the Floor: If the user cannot regain stability, the assistant should stand to the side, grasp the uppermost part of the support handle, and pull firmly and smoothly upward with one hand. With the other hand, hold the user under the elbow or armpit.
    • Maintain a wide base of support with feet shoulder-width apart, one foot slightly ahead.
    • Squat down, bending at the hips and knees only, to lower the user to the floor.
    • Maintain good posture: look straight ahead, keep the back straight, chest out, and shoulders back, with a slight arch in the lower back.

Maintenance Features

Proper care and regular inspection are essential to ensure the longevity and safety of the Drop Support Harness.

• Washing Instructions:

  1. Clean the full body harness with water and a mild soap solution.
  2. Do not use bleach or bleach solutions.
  3. Wipe off hardware with a clean, dry cloth.
  4. Hang to air dry; do not force dry with heat.
  5. Excessive buildup of dirt or paint can prevent the harness from working properly and may degrade the webbing, necessitating removal from use.

• Storage Instructions:

  1. Store the harness in a cool, dry, clean environment, away from direct sunlight.
  2. Avoid areas with chemical vapors or fumes.
  3. Thoroughly inspect the harness after extended storage.

• Inspection:

  • Frequency: The harness must be inspected before each use by a person other than the user. An annual inspection by someone who has read the instructions is also required. Extreme use (many near falls or falls) may necessitate more frequent inspections.
  • Inspection Steps:
    1. Hardware: Inspect buckles, the support handle, and frontal loop guides for damage, breaks, distortion, sharp edges, cracks, or worn parts. Buckles should work smoothly, and side release buckles should click when engaged, with release tabs working freely.
    2. Webbing: Check for fraying, cuts, broken fibers, tears, abrasions, mold, burns, or discoloration. Inspect stitching for pulled or cut threads, as these can indicate impact loading, requiring removal from use.
    3. Labels: All labels must be present and fully legible.
    4. Frontal Loop Guides: Inspect for integrity and function.
  • Warning: If any defective condition is found during inspection, immediately stop using the harness and replace it.
  • Product Life: The functional life is determined by use conditions and maintenance. If the product passes all inspections, it can remain in use.

The webbing/harness material will soften with continued use, enhancing comfort and flexibility over time.

DROP SUPPORT HARNESS Specifications

General

Type	Full Body Harness
Material	Polyester webbing
D-ring locations	Back
Standards	ANSI Z359.11
Color	Usually high-visibility colors like orange, yellow, or green with contrasting trim