Patient transfer mattress having connectable segments

1. A method of moving a patient on a support surface comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable patient transfer mattress including holes in a bottom surface for creating a cushion of escaping air beneath the mattress to facilitate sliding of the mattress on a support surface, the mattress including at least a first inflatable segment and a second inflatable segment, the segments adapted for releasable attachment to each other such that the segments are arranged in an end-to-end fashion, the first segment having opposite first and second ends;

attaching the second segment to the first segment at the first end of the first segment;

placing the transfer mattress on the support surface such that the first segment is located at a first location on the support surface;

positioning a patient on the mattress such that at least a portion of the patient is supported on the first segment;

inflating at the least the first segment of the mattress;

sliding the mattress on the support surface while the patient is supported on the transfer mattress such that the first segment is moved from the first location on the support surface to a second location on the support surface;

separating the second segment from the first end of the first segment while the patient remains supported on the first segment;

rearranging the second segment with respect to the first segment to position the second segment at the second end of the first segment such that a portion of the patient is supported on each segment of the mattress; and

attaching the second segment to the second end of the first segment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the mattress segments includes an inlet for receiving air from an air source for inflating the segment.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the mattress segments includes opposite ends and at least one attachment member adjacent each end of the segment adapted for engagement with an attachment member of another segment.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the attachment members comprise snap fasteners.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each segment includes at least one elastic strap secured to the segment to extend along a bottom surface of the segment in a corner portion of the segment, the elastic strap adapted for engagement with an underlying support member to limit relative movement between the segment and the support member.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second segment is located at the second location on the support surface prior to the step of sliding the mattress.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the patient is supported on the second segment prior to the step of sliding the mattress.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the head and shoulders of the patient are located on the second segment prior to the step of sliding the mattress, and wherein the legs of the patient are located on the second segment following the steps of separating the second segment from the first segment and arranging the second segment with respect to the first segment.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein each segment of the mattress includes accessory fasteners located about a periphery of the segment for attaching an accessory to the segment.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the accessory fasteners are located on mounting tabs located adjacent an upper surface of the segment.

11. A method of repositioning a patient on a support surface comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable transfer mattress having holes in a bottom surface of the mattress to create a weight-bearing cushion of escaping air beneath the mattress to facilitate sliding of the mattress, the mattress including a first inflatable segment and a second inflatable segment, the first segment having opposite first and second ends;

placing the mattress on a support surface;

positioning a patient on the mattress such that a portion of the patient is supported on the first segment and at least the head of the patient is supported on the second segment;

inflating the first and second segments;

sliding the transfer mattress on the support surface;

removing the second segment from the first end of the first segment while the patient remains supported on the first segment and rearranging the second segment with respect to the first segment at the opposite second end of the first segment such that the legs of the patient are located on the second segment; and

attaching the second segment to the first segment at the second end of the first segment.

12. A method of relocating a patient on a support surface comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable transfer mattress including holes in a bottom surface to create a cushion of escaping air beneath the mattress to facilitate sliding movement of the mattress, the mattress including an inflatable first segment and an inflatable second segment adapted for attachment to each other such that the segments are arranged in end-to-end fashion, the first segment including a first end and an opposite second end;

attaching the second segment to the first end of the first segment;

placing the mattress on a support surface such that the first segment is located on a first portion of the support surface;

positioning a patient on the mattress such that at least a portion of the patient is supported on the first segment;

inflating the mattress;

sliding the mattress and patient on the support surface such that the first segment is moved from the first portion of the support surface to a second portion of the support surface;

removing the second segment from the first end of the first segment while the patient remains supported on the first segment;

rearranging the second segment with respect to the first segment at the second end of the first segment: and

attaching the second segment to the second end of the first segment.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the head and shoulders of the patient are located on the second segment prior to the step of sliding the mattress, and wherein the legs of the patient are located on the second segment following the steps of removing the second segment from the first end of the first segment and rearranging the second segment with respect to the first segment at the second end of the first segment.