The MAV aims to reduce the potential for harm to both the wearer and the user.  By allowing the user to have an adjustable mobility assistance vest, the wearer can be assured it will fit them correctly.  This will allow the user to effectively manoeuvre the wearer, assisting them with movement.
 
Can be used in a variety of settings:
Ambulance Services
Care Homes
Hospitals
Police Services
Fire and Rescue Services
Prison Services
Military
 
The mobility assistance device that was born out of necessity
The creator of the MAV has worked for West Midlands Ambulance Service for almost 20 years.  This first hand experience led to the innovation that there is a safer and more effective moving and handling solution.
 
The Device
The MAV ‘gives the body handles’ so the person wearing the device can be held securely without the user needing to hold onto the person.   This increases safety by allowing the user hold one or more of the device’s handles to ensure good safe working, therefore reducing the risk of the wearer being injured or their clothes being pulled.
 
The MAV has a working load limit of 150kg
 
It can be used to complement other manual handling devices or used independently.
 
The Idea
Malcolm recalls: “I responded to a job on the ambulance where I was using the Mangar Elk lifting cushion (Mangar Elk Lifting Cushion with Airflo 24 – Moving and handling – Winncare United-Kingdom) to assist in lifting a patient that had reduced mobility.  As a crew, we used a slide sheet and a manual handling belt to move our patient onto the Mangar Elk, making sure of correct position, withdrew the slide sheet and began to raise our patient.  Due to the reduced mobility and lack of balance, the patient found it hard at times to balance correctly and wanted stabilising at the top of their torso.  I noticed there was no way of effectively holding onto both the lower and upper torso at the same time and so we assisted the patient as best as possible with the situation presented.  Thankfully we managed to assist our patient up from the floor and make them comfortable.
 
I have used the Mangar Elk and other pieces of manual handling kit many times, too many to count, however it was after this job the idea of the MAV came to my mind.”