GB2115690A - Body bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A body bag for use at the scene of accidents or disasters is formed of flexible and impermeable material with a sealable opening 14 preferably extending the length of the bag, and a window 22 of transparent material enabling visual identification of a body without unsealing of the opening. Preferably, the bag is provided with an exterior pouch 24 for medical records, and carrying handles 20. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in body bags This invention relates to body bags, that is to say bags for use in the carriage and temporary storage of corpses, particularly at the scene of an accident or disaster.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved body bag. Accordingly, the present invention consists in a body bag formed of flexible and impermeable material for use in the carriage and temporary storage of corpses, the bag being provided with a sealable opening and a window of transparent plastics material enabling visual identification of a corpse without unsealing of the opening.

Advantageously, the operning extends substantially the length of the bag and is sealable by means of a sliding clasp fastener.

Suitably, the bag is further provided with an exterior pouch for medical records.

Preferably, the bag is provided with carrying means in the form of straps.

This invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a sketch of a body bag according to the invention.

The body bag shown in the drawing is formed of upper and lower sheets (10 and 12 respectively) of a suitable plastics material joined, for example, by R. F. Welding. An opening 14 extends lateraliy across one end of the bag, along substantially the length of the bag and laterally across the opposite end. This opening is sealable by means of a sliding clasp fastener 1 6. Two nylon webbing straps 18 extend across the bag, each terminating in carrying handles 20. These straps are stitched to the underside of the bag.

Towards one end of the bag, the upper plastics sheet 10 is formed with a clear plastics window 22. Towards the opposite end of the bag, there is provided a pouch 24, sealed along three edges to the upper plastics sheet 10.

The body bag according to this invention is felt to have important advantages over the bags currently used by the emergency services at the scene of accidents or disasters. Because of the presence of the window 22, a corpse can be identified without the need to open the bag and with the torso of the corpse remaining hidden from view. The risk of contamination of any sort from the corpse is substantially reduced. The fact that only the head of the corpse is visible may in certain cases lessen - to a degree - the distress of those carrying out the identification.

If the pouch 24 is used to hold documents such as X-rays, dental records and the like, clinical identification of the body is facilitated particularly in the event of a large scale disaster.

The construction of a body bag according to this invention from plastics material results in an item of low cost and low packaged bulk particularly when vacuum techniques are employed. The item can therefore be considered to be disposable and stockpiled by the emergency services.

A body bag according to this invention may be used with advantage to protect a severely injured person from the elements and to retain body heat.

When used in this way, the opening is of course not completely sealed and the portion of the upper sheet containing the window is folded back.

1. A body bag formed of flexible and impermeable material for use in the carriage and temporary storage of corpses, the bag being provided with a sealable opening and a window of transparent plastics material enabling visual identification of a corpse without unsealing of the opening.

2. A body bag according to Claim 1, wherein the opening extends substantially the length of the bag and is sealable by means of a sliding clasp fastener.

3. A body bag according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the bag is further provided with an exterior pouch for medical records.

4. A body bag according to any one of the preceding claims, further provided with carrying means.

5. A body bag according to Claim 4, wherein the carrying means comprise straps extending across the underside of the bag.

6. A body bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in body bags This invention relates to body bags, that is to say bags for use in the carriage and temporary storage of corpses, particularly at the scene of an accident or disaster. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved body bag. Accordingly, the present invention consists in a body bag formed of flexible and impermeable material for use in the carriage and temporary storage of corpses, the bag being provided with a sealable opening and a window of transparent plastics material enabling visual identification of a corpse without unsealing of the opening. Advantageously, the operning extends substantially the length of the bag and is sealable by means of a sliding clasp fastener. Suitably, the bag is further provided with an exterior pouch for medical records. Preferably, the bag is provided with carrying means in the form of straps. This invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a sketch of a body bag according to the invention. The body bag shown in the drawing is formed of upper and lower sheets (10 and 12 respectively) of a suitable plastics material joined, for example, by R. F. Welding. An opening 14 extends lateraliy across one end of the bag, along substantially the length of the bag and laterally across the opposite end. This opening is sealable by means of a sliding clasp fastener 1 6. Two nylon webbing straps 18 extend across the bag, each terminating in carrying handles 20. These straps are stitched to the underside of the bag. Towards one end of the bag, the upper plastics sheet 10 is formed with a clear plastics window 22. Towards the opposite end of the bag, there is provided a pouch 24, sealed along three edges to the upper plastics sheet 10. The body bag according to this invention is felt to have important advantages over the bags currently used by the emergency services at the scene of accidents or disasters. Because of the presence of the window 22, a corpse can be identified without the need to open the bag and with the torso of the corpse remaining hidden from view. The risk of contamination of any sort from the corpse is substantially reduced. The fact that only the head of the corpse is visible may in certain cases lessen - to a degree - the distress of those carrying out the identification. If the pouch 24 is used to hold documents such as X-rays, dental records and the like, clinical identification of the body is facilitated particularly in the event of a large scale disaster. The construction of a body bag according to this invention from plastics material results in an item of low cost and low packaged bulk particularly when vacuum techniques are employed. The item can therefore be considered to be disposable and stockpiled by the emergency services. A body bag according to this invention may be used with advantage to protect a severely injured person from the elements and to retain body heat. When used in this way, the opening is of course not completely sealed and the portion of the upper sheet containing the window is folded back. CLAIMS

1. A body bag formed of flexible and impermeable material for use in the carriage and temporary storage of corpses, the bag being provided with a sealable opening and a window of transparent plastics material enabling visual identification of a corpse without unsealing of the opening.

2. A body bag according to Claim 1, wherein the opening extends substantially the length of the bag and is sealable by means of a sliding clasp fastener.

3. A body bag according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the bag is further provided with an exterior pouch for medical records.

4. A body bag according to any one of the preceding claims, further provided with carrying means.

5. A body bag according to Claim 4, wherein the carrying means comprise straps extending across the underside of the bag.

6. A body bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.