Identification system for a patient transfer mattress

A patient transfer device comprising:

• an inflatable mattress defining a plurality of holes in a bottom sheet of the mattress for creating a cushion of escaping air beneath the transfer mattress to facilitate sliding movement of the mattress along an underlying surface;
• a plurality of side pull straps each adapted for application of a pulling force to the mattress;
• and
• a plurality of fasteners for releasably attaching an accessory to the mattress, each of the fasteners mounted on a tab,
• the side pull straps and the tabs made from materials having a color, the color for each of the side pull straps and tabs being substantially identical such that the side pull straps and tabs function to visually identify the mattress and distinguish the mattress from other mattresses for matching the mattress with a corresponding accessory.

A patient transfer device comprising:

• an inflatable transfer mattress;
• a plurality of side pull straps each adapted for application of a pulling force to the mattress;
• and
• an accessory attached to the transfer mattress,
• the side pull straps and at least a portion of the accessory made from materials having a color, the color for each of the side pull straps and the at least a portion of the accessory being substantially identical.