Pressure Pad, Pull Cord and Floor Alarms, Plus Impact Mats
This collection carries 19 bedside fall prevention products from Drive Medical, Skil-Care and Dynarex: pressure-sensitive bed and chair alarms, pull cord alarms including a tamper-proof magnetic version, floor sensor pad systems, replacement sensor pads in several sizes and warranty terms, and impact-reduction fall mats in tri-fold, high-density and covered designs.
An alarm gives staff warning that a patient is moving; a fall mat reduces injury if they reach the floor. They are separate layers and most facilities use both.
→ Part of Patient Safety & Alarms. Also see Bed Rails, Bed Accessories and Hospital Beds.
Compare Alarm and Mat Types
| Model | Type | Triggers when | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive 13602 pull cord | Pull cord alarm | Clip detaches from clothing | Earliest warning, bed or chair |
| Drive 13603 tamper-proof | Magnetic pull cord | Clip detaches, resists removal | Patients who disable standard cords |
| Drive 13606 bed alarm | Pressure pad, bed | Weight leaves the pad | Standard bed exit alert |
| Drive 13609 bed, reset button | Pressure pad, bed | Weight leaves, staff reset | Bedside reset without control unit |
| Drive 13605 chair and bed | Pressure pad, 10 x 15 chair pad | Weight leaves the pad | Recliners and wheelchairs |
| Skil-Care BedPro undermattress | Pressure pad, under mattress | Weight leaves the bed | No pad contact with patient skin |
| Skil-Care FloorPro 36 x 26 | Floor sensor pad | Foot touches the floor | Fewest false alarms |
| Skil-Care FloorPro Soft Fall | Floor alarm and fall mat combined | Foot touches, mat cushions | Alarm and impact reduction in one |
| Drive 14700 tri-fold mat | Fall mat | No alarm | Folds away when not needed |
| Drive PrimeMat 2.0 | Impact reduction mat | No alarm | Highest cushioning, permanent placement |
Pull Cord, Pressure Pad or Floor Pad?
The three trigger at different points in a bed exit. A pull cord fires when the clip detaches from the patient's clothing, which is earliest but also produces the most false alarms from normal movement. A pressure pad fires when weight leaves the pad, later but with fewer false triggers. A floor pad fires when a foot reaches the floor, latest of all but almost never falsely. Pull cord: the Drive 13602 and the 13603 tamper-proof magnetic for patients who remove standard cords. Bed pressure pads: the Drive 13606, the 13609 with reset button, the Dynarex Protech and the Skil-Care BedPro undermattress system. Floor: the FloorPro 36 x 26 double-sided.
Bed, Chair or Both?
Chair pads are smaller and shaped for a seat. A patient at risk in bed is usually also at risk in a recliner or wheelchair, so most facilities alarm both. Chair: the Drive 13608 chair alarm with reset and the Skil-Care ChairPro pads. Combined: the Drive 13605 chair and bed with 10 x 15 chair pad. Replacement pads are consumables with a service life: the ChairPro 16 x 16 in a 180-day 10 pack, the BedPro pads in multiple sizes and warranty terms and the FloorPro pads in multiple pack options. The warranty period is the replacement interval.
Which Fall Mat?
A mat does not prevent a fall; it reduces the injury from one. Tri-fold mats store away when the patient is up, which matters where the mat itself is a trip hazard for a mobile patient: the Drive 14700. Permanent mats give more cushioning: the PrimeMat 2.0 in grey or brown, the Mason high-density floor mat and the SafetyCare 36 x 66 x 2 with MasonGard cover, where the cover makes the mat wipeable. The Skil-Care FloorPro Soft Fall combines a floor alarm and a cushioned mat in one unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which alarm gives the earliest warning?
A pull cord, since it fires as soon as the clip detaches from clothing. It also produces the most false alarms from normal movement. A floor pad fires latest but almost never falsely. Choose by how far the response point is from the bed.
Which alarm for a patient who removes the cord?
The Drive 13603 tamper-proof magnetic pull cord, or a pressure pad or floor pad the patient does not interact with. An undermattress pad such as the Skil-Care BedPro has no contact with the patient at all.
How often do sensor pads need replacing?
At the end of their warranty term. Skil-Care pads are sold with 180-day and other warranty options, and that period is the replacement interval. A pad past its term can fail without warning.
Do I need a fall mat as well as an alarm?
They do different jobs. The alarm gives staff time to reach the patient; the mat reduces injury if they reach the floor first. Most facilities use both for high-risk patients.
Tri-fold or permanent mat?
Tri-fold if the patient walks during the day, since a mat on the floor is a trip hazard for a mobile person. Permanent high-density mats cushion more and suit patients who do not leave the bed unassisted.
Read the full guide: Expert Buyer's Guide: Top 5 Hospital Beds for Home Use
MediDepot Purchasing Advantages
- Price Match Guarantee: found the same catalogue number for less elsewhere? We will match the verified price.
- Equipment Financing: available on larger facility orders.
- Extended Warranty: available on qualifying equipment.
- Military Discount: available for qualifying military medical facilities and personnel.
- Request a Quote: standing sensor pad replacement orders and facility-wide pricing.
Related Buying Guides
- Expert Buyer's Guide: Top 5 Hospital Beds for Home Use
- Patient Lifts: Sit-to-Stand vs Hoyer Guide
- Clinic Infection Control Supplies Checklist
- Medical Equipment Quote Comparison Checklist