CONSUMERS : One Way Out of a Burning Building
An Orange County firefighter and paramedic has designed a no-twist, no-wobble, portable fire escape ladder for multilevel homes, apartments or condominiums.
The All-Safe Fire Escape Ladder, made of anodized aluminum and high-density plastic, weighs just nine pounds so it can be used by children as well as adults, said designer Steve Islava of the Orange County Fire Department.
The ladder, which can support up to 600 pounds and unfolds to a height of 12 feet, 6 inches is designed to be tangle-free, “so it can be used panic free,” Islava said. “The first two steps are stationary, which is critical in overcoming fear as the user begins to climb out and down from a second- or third-story level.” Metal tubes atop the ladder unfold to provide hooks that fit over a windowsill.
The All-Safe ladder folds so it can be stored under a bed or in a closet. Suggested retail price is $69.95. In Southern California, it is available at Builders Emporium, Fedco and Home Depot stores. If you can’t find it in your area, you can order it by contacting All-Safe Inc., P.O. Box 2417, Newport Beach, Calif. 92663; in California call (714) 646-7988; out-of-state, (800) 833-FIRE.
A Portable Ramp for Disabled Pets
PawsWay, a new ramp-like device, helps cats and small dogs with limited mobility climb to a favorite resting spot, such as a chair or sill.
Mary Coeli Meyer of Acworth, Ga., with the aid of veterinarian Dr. Pam Webb, developed PawsWay for her mother’s 18-year-old arthritic cat, then decided to market it to help other owners and their pets.
“I frequently send a patient home with instructions not to jump up on chairs or to go upstairs,” says Webb, an associate at Bells Ferry Veterinary Hospitals in Acworth. “PawsWay solves that problem.” She notes that it takes an animal four to six weeks to heal after an operation, and “that’s the time when they most want to be off the floor and up in their usual, comfortable place. When they can’t go there, they feel like they are being punished.”
PawsWay, built by veterans at a hospital near Chicago, can be adjusted to four different heights; it’s made of pine or oak.
When not in use, the ramp can be folded and stored in a closet or under a sofa. The pine model costs $49.95; oak, $64.95, plus $8 for shipping and handling. To order, write Pet Care with Love Inc., P.O. Box 764, Department MPR, Glenview, Ill. 60025.
A Saddlebag That Slips Over Coolers
Attention beach-goers or picnickers: Kooler-Saddle is a nylon saddlebag that fits over a cooler, so you can carry sun lotions, towels, magazines, a small tablecloth or other items you need.
The washable bag comes in two sizes, one that fits large coolers, such as Igloo or Coleman, and a smaller one that slips over the Playmate type. Once the bag fits over the cooler, there’s space for the cooler handle. The bag can be secured with attached Velcro strips. The pouches on each side--15 by 17 inches on the large model and 11 1/2 by 13 inches on the small--have top flaps that close with Velcro fasteners.
Kooler-Saddle comes in red, blue, yellow, orange or gray and costs $10.95 for the large size, $8.95 for the small. Add $2.50 for shipping and handling. Available from Leanbak International, P.O. Box 13014, La Jolla, Calif. 92037; phone, (619) 452-1322.
