Massage and wellness equipment supplier Living Earth Crafts (LEC) is donating its prone massage beds to help US hospitals treat COVID-19 patients.

LEC has partnered with non-profit organisation Prone2Help and donated its Earthlite Prone Comfort Bolster and Headrests as proning mattresses to help patients who’re asked to prone – lie on their stomachs – as part of their treatment for COVID-19 pneumonia.

Originally designed to accommodate larger or pregnant clients during spa treatments, LEC’s mattresses are helping make COVID-19 patients more comfortable while lying on their front, which can open up the lungs, improve oxygenation, slow respiratory rates and decrease the work of breathing, according to Prone2Help’s medical advisor, Dr Richard M Levitan MD.

“When COVID patients turn to a prone position their oxygenation improves significantly”, says Levitan, “I’ve seen patients come in with saturations of 50 per cent rise to 95 per cent when positioned prone.”

The Earthlite proning mattress is lightweight, easily fits on a hospital stretcher and can be wiped down and cleaned using standard hospital disinfectant wipes.

“I’m very proud that Living Earth Crafts have continued our work as an essential business with an amazing pivot in the right direction,” said Brian Paris, LEC executive VP.