Air Mattress for Bed Sores: How to Set the Pump Pressure Properly

A sore on a parent's back, hip, or heel starts out as a small red spot. After that, the skin breaks and it is very painful for them to move around. They also need care around the clock.

Air mattresses evenly distribute the pressure of the body, but they still need to be repositioned and need medical care.

Most families get a mattress and completely disregard the pump setting. Too little air leaves the resting body against the hard base, while too much air makes the surface hard and defeats the purpose of a pressure-relieving mattress. The ideal setting is based on the parent's weight, the shape of their body, their skin condition, the mattress, and how mobile they are.

If you are caring for an elderly person who has developed a pressure sore, or if they are prone to breaking the skin and developing bed sores due to consistent pressure, then you need to get to know the pump of the mattress and check the skin on a daily basis.

What Is an Air Mattress for Bed Sores?

An air mattress for bed sores is also called an alternating pressure mattress. An air mattress for bed sores has a series of air cells or air tubes with an electric pump. The pump circulates air through sections of the mattress to provide pressure relief.

There are different settings with some mattresses depending on whether each cell is inflated and deflated continuously or if each section is inflated and stays that way. The design and strength of the pump, along with the weight capacity, can be different across models.

An air mattress helps manage pressure and therefore is safe for some people to use, although it will not heal a wound on its own. An assessment of symptoms including open sores, spreading redness, drainage, swelling, fever, or increased pain by a medical professional is needed.

How to Set the Pump Pressure Correctly

Read the Manufacturer Instructions

Connecting the pump to the mattress requires consulting the instructions prior to inflation. Most manufacturers will recommend pressure settings and inflation times that need to be observed. Safety instructions must also be noted.

Pump designs vary, and so will the control mechanisms. Some will have numbered dials. Others might use soft, medium, firm, or even a person's weight descriptors.

Copying the setting from a similar mattress or pillow is not advisable. Even designs that look alike might have different pressure requirements.

Start With a Middle Setting

It is acceptable to set the pump to the middle of its suggested range before your parent lies down. You must let the mattress inflate fully, which might take a few minutes.

A middle setting inflates the air mattress to a pressure at which you must check whether the parent is well supported.

Use the Two-Finger Check

You must slide your hand beneath the area at the highest risk of pressure. Check beneath the lower back, hips, sacrum, or another bony area, depending on the sleeping position.

There should be a small space between the body and the firm base of the mattress. A good test of this is to lay two fingers against the body on the mattress while gently pressing down.

The two fingers should not easily touch the base. If the body is actually against the mattress base, press down slightly more.

The two-finger test is simply a general guide and is not intended to replace the mattress instructions or a professional evaluation. The result of the test is determined by the body’s position, the thickness of the mattress, and the location of any injuries.

Adjust Incrementally

Small changes are best. Increase or decrease the pressure slowly. Wait for the mattress to respond before making further adjustments. Large changes at once negatively impact the ability to understand how each setting affects the level of support and comfort.

If your parent senses the mattress is hard, decrease the pressure slightly while ensuring that the body does not come into contact with the base. If your parent senses the mattress is soft and the body starts to sink, increase pressure.

Recheck if Any Changes Occur

The correct setting can change if your parent swells, gains or loses weight, changes sleeping position, or spends more time in bed. Recheck after repositioning, bathing, dressing, or transferring your parent back to bed.

Check pressure after the pump is running and listen for any unusual sounds. Also check for loose connections or a kink in the tubing.

Signs the Pressure Is Too Low

To deal with low pressure, the gap between the base and the body is reduced. Check for:

• Contact between the hip, shoulder, or sacrum and the base
• One portion of the body sinking deeply into the mattress
• A pump alarm or low-pressure indicator
• Redness of the skin due to pressure
• A flat mattress despite pump operation
• Increasing pain when a person lies flat or turns on the side

If a parent’s body touches the base, increase pressure a little more and check if there are leaks in the system.

Signs of High Pressure in the Mattress

High pressure makes a mattress firm. Your parent may complain of pain, stiffness, or vibrations and may feel rolling to one side. Red marks or bruises on the skin may occur due to rubbing of the skin against the mattress.

High pressure also decreases the mattress’s ability to conform to the body. Lower the pressure while keeping the two-finger check in mind. Do not lower the pressure to such an extent that the body touches the base.

Keep Bedding and Positioning Safe

Use a bed sheet that is suitable for the mattress. Keep thick blankets, folded towels, plastic between the mattress and parent, and several sheets away. All these affect the conformability of the mattress.

Keep the sheet dry and free of crumbs, creases, or moisture. Sweat, urine, or drainage from wounds and skin causes skin damage and should be avoided. Change the bedding without delay and follow the instructions from the healthcare worker who is managing the wound.

Reposition the person based on the care plan. An air mattress means that turning still needs to happen. Pillows and positioning aids need to be used according to the instructions from a nurse or physiotherapist, especially if there is a sore.

Skincare

Check the backs of the knees, heels, hips, buttocks, shoulders, head, elbows, and tailbone. Check for redness, warmth, purple or blackened areas, swollen skin, broken skin, blisters, and drainage.

If there is persistent pain, skin damage, or redness, then you have to seek professional advice. Note the location, color, size, and any changes.

Sores that have a discharge, pus, and spreading redness, or fever, confusion, or sudden weakness also need to be checked. Diabetes, poor circulation, reduced motion, and reduced limb sensation are also causes for concern.

Enhancing the Surrounding Care

Pressure care also involves continence care, nutrition, hydration, movement, and safe transfers. Skin has to be cleansed and dried, and barrier creams should be used as instructed. Fragile skin should not be rubbed.

When dealing with incontinence, an AGEasy Adult Diapers may be useful depending on the size chosen and how quickly it is changed. This product is for managing incontinence and will not heal bedsores, so skincare routines and regular diaper checks remain just as important.

Transfers can cause friction and shear when parents slide down the bed, particularly when a parent slides down the bed during a transfer. Seek help from a physiotherapist or nurse for transfer techniques that are safer for both parent and caregiver.

When to Contact a Healthcare Professional

The following are signs that indicate contacting a healthcare professional is appropriate:

• If the sore starts bleeding or gets larger
• If the sore begins to have a deep appearance
• If pain from the sore is increasing
• If the sore is weeping
• If swelling has formed
• If the sore is starting to smell bad
• If the sore is warm to the touch
• If the parent becomes ill
• If the mattress alarm continues to be activated or the mattress deflates
• If you don’t know which pressure setting is safe

Assess the pressure setting, the mattress that was selected, the position the parent is sleeping in, the location of the wound, and how often the parent is repositioned with the healthcare professional you have contacted.

A mattress that is safe to prevent pressure sores may not be appropriate for the healing of an existing pressure sore.

Final Checklist for Caregivers

Make sure you perform the following checks before you leave your parent in bed for the night:

• Ensure the mattress is completely inflated.
• Ensure the pump is connected and has been switched on according to the instructions.
• The pressure should be as stated in the manual and as per the person’s needs.
• Ensure the body is away from the firm base.
• The bed sheet is smooth and soft and has been lightly fastened.
• Support for heels and other bony parts is in place.
• The skin has been checked.
• The schedule for turning the parent has been noted and documented.
• Ensure the tubes are straight and have no kinks.
• A healthcare professional has checked the wound if present.

Pressure management and comfort of your parent also depend on how well you perform other bed sore preventive measures. Remember to reposition your parent regularly, provide them with a clean, dry sheet, and safeguard your parent from other potential injuries.

This also includes providing your parent with medical aid and support when needed, and performing careful transfers.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and should not replace individualized assessment, diagnosis, wound care, or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional.