’Evacusled’ devices help hospitals evacuate

A device called an "Evacusled" is one of the newest devices used at Des Moines, IA's Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Capitol hospital to help move patients during emergency evacuations. Health officials say Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 brought the issue of hospital emergency preparedness to the forefront, with one key piece being patient evacuation. New, specialized equipment such as the Evacusled are a great improvement over other techniques of transporting patients, such as wrapping patients in bedsheets or blankets and carrying or dragging them, hospital officials say.