Incontinence Supplies
What
is an underpad or chux?
by Noah Lam, Chief Operating Officer of CWI Medical
All three of my children were wrapped in light blue underpads when they
were born before they were swaddled in nice comfy cotton sheets with the words
"Property of Hospital" printed on them, but I knew each one was mine
as soon as they came out crying. Several years later, we've been using underpads
for our little puppy beagle until she is house broken.
Hospitals, nursing homes, and day care centers use underpads to protect mattresses,
cribs, chairs, sofas, recliners, wheelchairs and all sorts of products that
they don't want to get wet. Basically, anytime a wetness episode becomes prevalent,
an underpad can keep the area dry.
Many people are familiar with the blue colored plastic sheet with a white paper
sheet on top. Some might even call them Chux, which was a brand name from a
very long time ago. These types of underpads are usually disposable. Manufacturers
have different levels of absorbency by changing the amount of paper fluff or
super absorbent polymer to absorb the wetness. In general, this plastic version
is very thin and has the tendency to rustle and move around. Sizes range from
17"
x 24" (great for wheelchairs) to 30"
x 36".
Another consideration to look for in a disposable underpad is they way the manufacturer
layers the materials. For example, Prevail
uses a bonded construction that reduces top sheet separation and clumping, and
in addition incorporates a soft, yet strong cloth-like top sheet with a flat
seal around the pad there are no plastic edges exposed to the skin. With other
manufacturers, if you hold the underpad up to a light, you can see the clumping
of the paper fluff and other sections have no fluff at all. These inconsistencies
may produce leakages.
Some people prefer to use reusable
underpads that are made of cotton and/or a polyester blend and attached
to a vinyl backing which make them waterproof. This fabric sandwich makes it
softer, quieter, and washable. Reusable underpads come in a variety of colors
including blue, green and plaid. Some manufacturers continue to produce handmade
underpads that can be created in different sizes from a wheelchair seat to larger
sizes to protect the bed.
There are many different underpad Brands, such as Prevail,
Tranquility,
Attends, Griffin,
Dynarex,
Select, Tena, Salk,
CWI Medical, and many more. All have different levels of quality, absorbency,
colors, sizes, and cost.
---------------
Noah Lam has over 15 years of experience of providing high quality medical supplies
and healthcare products from Acute Care Facilities to parents and children.
His company, CWI Medical is a leading provider of physical therapy equipment
to healthcare facilities and for home use. For more information, please visit
CWI Medical.
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