Hip Protector Pads have been used for many years to help prevent hip fractures. By using Hip Protector Pads, some people who are in danger of falling may be saved from a fracture, or after a hip replacement operation, the Hip Protector Pads may prevent another operation. Pelican Hip Protector Pads are designed to partly absorb and redistribute the impact of a fall, particularly around the Greater Trochanter area to protect the bone.

Ours are different from others available for a few reasons:

• We sell the pants and pads separately. The pants have pockets in the sides of the pants where the pads are placed. Most people order 3 or 4 pairs of pants, and just one set of pads, as that is all they require, as they can place the pads in a clean set of pants. Opposition items normally have the pads as part of the pants, so if you want to want 3 or 4 pairs of pants, you are paying for the pads in each pair, which is not necessary with ours.
• No hard shell - some opposition ones have a hard plastic shell which is uncomfortable, especially when sleeping, and can damage the skin if the patient falls.
• Air circulation - our pads have a layer of special black foam which is great for air circulation under the pad as it holds the pad slightly away from the skin. When someone is falling the pad is then pressed against the skin (which is best for impact absorption) and the black foam crushes very thinly. Opposition products have tight fitting pants that hold the pads close to the skin all the time, which is not necessary and can be uncomfortable when wearing them all the time, (which these items are meant for!) The tight fitting pants make it very difficult for the caring staff to fit the pants on the patient.

We have female and male style pants (the main difference is the male ones have a fly). We also have 3 types of pads (Original, Supersoft, and Supersoft Washable). Customers almost always buy the white square Supersoft Washable type because they have the best overall performance, so I think we should only concentrate on this type.

The pants are available in different sizes. The best fit is slightly loose, not slightly tight. They only need to be tight when someone has fallen. Once someone has fallen onto their hip, the pad will be pressed against their hip bone anyway, so there is no advantage in wearing tight pants all the time. By having tight fitting pants and hard shell protectors, many patients with dementia will try to remove the pads. These patients are more likely to accept a softer pad with more comfortable pants. Patient compliance is very important with Hip Protectors. We have a theory that as the patient is sitting most of the day and walking safely most of the time they walk, why do they need a constant irritation of wearing fight fitting uncomfortable pads? They only need the Hip Protectors just before they hit the floor, and that is when the pads will be ready. We advise patients to get one size bigger than they would normally use, particularly if they are wearing incontinent pads.