Harrisburg School District Includes Med Sled in Emergency Preparedness Plans

HARRISBURG, PA, August 13, 2010 (Press-News.org) The Harrisburg School District is the first in its region to recognize emergency evacuation as a high priority and recently chose to adopt the Med Sled Evacuation Sled as a part of their comprehensive emergency plans. ARC Products, LLC, manufacturer and innovator of the Med Sled , is proud to announce this joint venture, which will include the installation of Med Sleds in each of their schools. Emergency evacuation has been especially noted by the Special Education Department at Harrisburg, whose members' main concerns are for the immobile and students with disabilities.

"When it comes to being prepared, leaving someone behind to wait for professional responders is not a risk we're willing to take," said Nancy Adams, Multiple Disabilities Teacher at the Harrisburg Special School District. "The Med Sled allows us to be more self-sufficient and ensure a more successful evacuation. Further, the district's motto, 'Where effort creates ability' is an accurate demonstration of our commitment to providing top-line safety for students, staff and visitors alike."

The Med Sled is a cost-effective evacuation sled that empowers non-professionals to evacuate the injured or the immobile when immediate response is required. In a community-wide disaster, it can take hours or days for professional responders to reach the areas in need. The compact evacuation sleds weigh no more than 10 pounds and roll up neatly into an easy to store-and-carry bag. Harrisburg's initial purchase includes more than 30 sleds.

"Harrisburg is taking a very proactive approach in order to protect the more than 7,400 students their schools see on a regular basis," said Clifford Adkins, President of ARC Products and inventor of the Med Sled . "It's natural for safety to be a top priority when so many people are involved. Our goal is to create the most effective emergency evacuation device by supplying schools with both the necessary tools and procedures to handle a crisis. Not only do we need to worry about the students with disabilities who may not be able to evacuate on their own, but we should also consider students with temporary injuries, staff and visitors that could be on campus at any given time."

The Harrisburg School District is comprised of 14 schools, ranging from kindergarten to high school level education. The district's comprehensive emergency procedures will serve as a foundation for other area organizations. The sleds will equip all of Harrisburg's multi-story buildings with a combination of standard size, youth size and bariatric sleds. All evacuation sleds are rated to support up to 1,000 pounds and will be located near major stairwells and exit routes.

About ARC Products, LLC and Med Sled
ARC Products, LLC, based in St. Louis, is a national manufacturer of cost-effective evacuation solutions, including the Med Sled . Since 2004, ARC has been developing products to support disaster preparedness and emergency evacuation to ensure that non-ambulatory individuals are transported safely in emergency situations. Med Sleds are in service in 1,500+ facilities in all 50 states and more than six countries. Facilities include hospitals, nursing homes, fire and EMS, schools and universities, government facilities and military installations. Med Sleds are patent pending, made in America and approved by the GSA. For more information about ARC Products, LLC and the Med Sled , visit http://www.medsled.com or call 1-866-207-6993.