Insulative rescue cap containing emergency response procedures

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a device and a method that maintains an individual's body temperature during exposure to cold conditions or cold water and, more specifically, to an insulative rescue cap that clearly provides instructions and teachings of how to correctly perform emergency medical procedures, namely CPR. The cap is contoured to the individual's head.

Claims

1. A method for providing instructions for performing of an emergency rescue procedure to a patient suffering from hypothermia, said method comprising the steps: a. obtaining an insulative rescue cap to maintain an individual's optimal body temperature said insulative rescue cap comprising: i. a shell component having an inner surface, said shell component is adapted to closely fit the contours of a individual's head and over the ears to prevent open air space between said head and said inner surface, said shell component comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, and a center top panel, said shell component further comprises an outer surface that forms an opening circumscribed by a lower edge; ii. said shell component forms a means to grip said individual's head in a manner that impedes said insulative rescue cap from falling off said individual's head during an emergency procedure; iii. an insulative component, said insulative component lines only a portion of said inner surface along the top center panel from a front terminus to arear terminus, symmetrically about a vertical line; and iv. a first lateral side and a second lateral side of said cap, wherein said first lateral side has an area supporting an instruction indicia, said instruction indicia displaying instructions teaching how to perform an emergency medical procedure; and b. positioning said insulative rescue cap on a victim's head cover below the mid point of the external auditory meatus bilaterally in addition to the rear portion of the head and upper neck region in a manner such that the material covering the head is in contact with the head in all covered areas so as to prevent a signification amount of air space between the head and the inner material covering the head; wherein said instruction indicia is capable of being directly viewable by a person performing said emergency medical procedure while said insulative rescue cap is positioned properly upon the head of a user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising said second lateral side has a second area supporting the instruction indicia.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said emergency medical procedure comprises a CPR technique.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The advantages and the features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insulative rescue cap to control individual body temperature providing instructions for emergency medical procedures according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

(4) FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof;

(5) FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view thereof;

(6) FIG. 5 is a reverse perspective showing the inner portion thereof;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a surgical sap to control individual body temperature according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the surgical cap is shown in cooperation with a wearer's head; and,

(8) FIG. 7-12 are a variety of exemplary emergency rescue procedures that may be displayed on the indicia surface 50. The emergency rescue procedures form no part of the present claims, they are merely presented for descriptive purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the FIGS. 1-8.

(10) 1. Detailed Description of the Figures

(11) Referring now to FIG. 1-5, a covering unit, generally noted as 10, is shown for covering a individual's head for maintaining the head temperature and core body temperature within euthermic range during or after exposure to cold conditions that would ordinarily cause an individual to suffer hypothermia. The covering unit 10 covers a substantial portion of the head 70, as will be described in greater detail below and forms a multi-part shell component having an inner surface 12 adapted for closely fitting the contours of a individual's head so as to prevent open air space between the head and an inner surface. The shell component further has an outer surface 14, and forming an opening 16 circumscribed by a gripping lower edge 18. This gripping lower edge 18 forms a gripping means for gripping to a individual's head in a manner such as to impede said the head covering unit from coming off of the individual's head during use or while wearing.

(12) The shell component 14 preferably will provide insulating properties, and may include an insulating filling. However, in greater detail as shown in FIG. 6, the material of the shell component is anticipated as being thicker than 1 mm and less than 2 mm thick and adapted for positioning over both lateral side portions of the head. This shell is of a thickness suitable for maintaining the individual's head temperature within euthermic range.

(13) The insulative cap 10 is divided into two halves, a first lateral portion and a second lateral portion, as divided and defined by the sagittal line of an individual's body.

(14) Each lateral portion can have a highly visible and clearly demarcated area forming an indicia surface 50. Said indicia surface 50 provides a location for the affixing or printing of a detailed set of instructions of how to perform an emergency medical procedure. As best seen in FIG. 7-12, it is anticipated that the procedure will provide instructions on how to perform CPR, however other emergency medical procedures are anticipated, including but not limited to: neonatal resuscitation; tracheal intubation; laryngoscopy; defibrilation; foreign body retrieval; rapid sequence intubations, nasotracheal and transtracheal intubations; Needle cricothyroidotomy (Transtracheal jet ventilation) and surgical cricothyroidotomy; Transcutaneous and transvenous cardiac pacing; Needle and tube thoracostomy (Chest tube insertion); Procedural sedation and analgesia (Includes use of ketamine, propofol, thiopentone, iv benzodiazepines and potent opiates like morphine and fentanyl); Intra aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) device insertion; Pericardiocentesis; Focussed abdominal scan for trauma (FAST); Central venous cannulation (Internal jugular, subclavian, femoral and brachial); Regional anesthetic blocks (Includes digital, ankle and wrist blocks); Regular & plastic suturing and tendon repairs; Anterior and posterior nasal packing; Sengstaken-Blakemore/Minnesota tube insertion; Joint reductions and plaster application; Intraosseous line insertion; Diagnostic peritoneal lavage and abdominal paracentesis; Pleural fluid aspiration; Lumbar punctures; and Suprapubic catheterization

(15) As shown with FIG. 6-12, the cap 10 provides and clearly instructs a third party, said third party could be an emergency responder or a lay person, with two types of emergencies medical procedures. Each respective procedure being highly visible while being deployed with you on a victim, and clearly shown on each respective first and second lateral portion. The preferred embodiment provides for instructing on each cap 10, the two different conventional techniques for performing CPR on an adult and on a child, each technique shown on one lateral side of the cap 10.

(16) As additionally anticipated and shown best in conjunction with FIG. 5-6, an additional insulating component 19 lining a portion of the inner surface 12.

(17) Also illustrated in FIG. 1-6, the cap 10 will preferably cover below the mid point of the external auditory meatus bilaterally in addition to the rear portion of the head and upper neck region. The material covering the head has been designed to be in contact with the head in all covered areas so as to prevent a signification amount of air space between the head and the inner material covering the head. To accomplish this, the shell component is made from a pattern cut that is asymmetric from a section of the covering unit adapted for covering the front of the head and a section of the covering unit adapted for covering the rear of the head covering unit, such that the pattern cut has a concave pattern so as to emulate the shape of the front and rear of the head to prohibit the head covering unit from coming off of the head during use or while wearing.

(18) It is preferred that the shell component comprise insulative properties. The shell component may further include an insulative filling.

(19) It is additionally anticipated that an additional insulative component 19 lines a portion of the inner surface 12, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The insulative component 19 comprises material having a thickness greater than 2-mm at the areas adapted to cover the posterior, the anterior and the top portions of the head. The insulative component 19 comprises material having a thickness less than 2-mm at the areas adapted to cover both of the lateral portions.

(20) The insulative rescue cap 10 insulates a greater portion of the individual's head along approximately the central third, the anterior and the posterior portions.

(21) As also illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the insulative rescue cap 10 preferably covers below the midpoint of the external auditory meatus bilaterally in addition to the rear portion of the head and the upper neck region. The inner material that covers the head is designed to be in direct contact with the head to prevent the adverse effects a surgical cap having air gaps has on individual hypothermia. The direct contact is accomplished by means of a shell component made from a pattern cut asymmetrically from a section of the covering unit adapted to cover the front of the head and from a section of the covering unit adapted to cover the rear of the head. The pattern cut is concave to emulate the shape of the front and the rear of a head; it prohibits the insulative rescue cap 10 from falling off during surgery. The pattern forms a gap less than ¾ inch, preferably less than ½ inch and most preferably less than ¼ inch.

(22) It is additionally contemplated that the insulative rescue cap 10 includes material that comprises a temperature regulating microfiber. The enclosed cap may further incorporate a chin strap attached to the lower right and the lower left aspects of the insulative rescue cap 10.

(23) It is envisioned that the cap 10 is manufactured in various sizes, e.g., the standard sizes that include extra-small, small, medium, large, extra-large and the like. For a more efficient fit, the insulative rescue cap 10 may comprise the various standard sizes for different age ranges. Additionally, an adjustment or a take-up mechanism may be used to ensure a close-fit over the individual's head without pressing on the individual's head. The insulative rescue cap 10 laterally grips below the individual's external auditory meatus. Finally, it is envisioned that the material used in the head covering unit does not emit sparks nor is it static conductive. It may even be made of a fire retardant material.

(24) FIGS. 1-3 further illustrate that an embodiment of the disclosed invention can be made from a pattern cut asymmetrically from a section of the insulative rescue cap 10 adapted to cover the front of the head and a section of the insulative rescue cap 10 adapted to cover the rear of the head. Such a pattern is concave to emulate the shape of the front and the rear of the head and to prohibit the head covering unit from falling off during surgery. This embodiment includes a rear panel 20, a front panel 22, a top panel 24, and a medial and a lateral side panel 26 covering the mid point of the external auditory meatus bilaterally. The seams between the sides contain the external aspects to prevent the insulative rescue cap 10 from moving when it is laid on the posterior side, the medial or lateral side of the body.

(25) It is additionally anticipated that the insulative rescue cap of the present invention is included in a conventional rescue kit utilized by United States Armed Forces such as the Coast Guard, or Emergency Responders.

(26) 2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment

(27) In operation, the present invention the covering unit 10 is anticipated for use in maintaining the head temperature and core body temperature within euthermic range during or after exposure to cold conditions that would ordinarily cause an individual to suffer hypothermia. The individual's head 70 is covered at the forehead, ears and a base having a back portion along a line where the head and neck meet. The covering unit 10 is closely fitted to the head 70 and maintains a close proximity throughout surgery. The head covering 10 provides further additional insulation at least a portion of a individual's head during surgery. The cap 10 is made such as to grippingly engage below the wearer's external auditory meatus bilaterally and conform closely to the individual's head.

(28) The cap 10 provides instructions on at least one lateral side of how to perform emergency medical procedures, namely CPR. This allows for a lay or untrained person to perform CPR on a person who may be experiencing hypothermia in an attempt to prevent cardiac arrest.

(29) The foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for the purposes of illustration and description only. They are not intended to be exhaustive nor are they intended to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed and, obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and its various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.