Emergency patient evacuation system

A device for evacuating a non-ambulatory patient by lifting or sliding, without the use of a mattress, comprising:

• a) an elongated, planar, rigid base portion having a length and width greater than the length and width of said patient when supine, said base portion having an upper surface on which said patient lies and a lower surface adapted for sliding on a surface;
• b) a cushioning layer secured to the upper surface of said base portion of sufficient thickness to cushion said patient during evacuation;
• c) means for releasably securing said person on said base portion;
• d) handle means attached to one end of said base portion whereby said device may be pulled from said one end;
• e) handle means attached to both sides of said base portion whereby said device may be lifted from said both sides;
• f) a rigid head piece hingedly secured to said base portion at one end thereof and adapted to shield the top of said patient's head when said patient is secured to said base portion;
• and
• g) a rigid foot piece hingedly secured to said base portion at the opposite end thereof to said head piece, and adapted to shield the bottom of said patient's feet when said patient is secured to said base portion;
• whereby when in use said patient is secured to said base portion, and said lower surface of said base portion forms a rigid planar sliding surface larger in dimension than the length and width of said supine patient.