PATIENT SUPPORT APPARATUS

A patient support apparatus which includes a firm body support portion constructed of foam, with the foam having a first side for placement on a be d or gurney, and the second side upon which the body of the patient would be laid. The foam apparatus would include a principal upper torso support portion for supporting a patient generally from the top of the patient's hea d to the lower buttock region of the patient; first and second leg portions which are attachable to a lower edge of the principal body support portion for supporting the legs of the patient, and attachable arm portions secured to the side edg es of the upper body support portion for accommodating the arms of the patient. The upper sides of the principal body portion, leg portions and arm portio ns would further include contoured regions which would reflect the general shap e of the patient as the patient is laid on the patient's back on the apparatus , and would provide a soft yet firm support for the patient along the entire body region of the patient during transport. It is foreseen that in other embodiments, t he apparatus may include a generally principal body support portion for supporting, for example, an infant in the support portion, which would suppo rt the entire length of the infant. Further, it is foreseen that the apparatus may be utilized in its separate components, depending on the extent of injury to th e person being transported. Furthermore, other embodiments may include pockets formed within the principal body portion for inserting heating pads or other types of materials so that the patient may receive some form of treatment during transport or while the person is housed within an emergency medical facility awaiting treatment or is under specialized care.