Fixed Deck Mats
Impact injuries are a continuing problem for military and civilian personnel in small high-speed boats. Spinal injuries occur from single impact events (large wave at night) , as well as repetitive over rough water (the pounding of small boats into the waves). The US Special Operations has indicated that 65% of small boat operators suffer from boat induced injuries resulting from shocks (and that is probably under reported). These protective deck mats are engineered to dissipate much of the impact energy before it can be transmitted to the body. Not only can the use of foam cushions and other competitive products fail to provide the needed protection, but also it can actually increase the potential for injury. The following graph shows not only how The MitiGator™ mats reduce the shocks felt by boat crews during impacts by dissipating energy, but it shows that there is as much as an 8% improvement in energy dissipation realized by not using a competitive product. Having no deck mat is better than using most deck mats on the market.
Other mats on the market are, in essence, springs. They do not dissipate energy but instead spread it out over a longer time frame. This spring effect can make an operator feel unsafe when the “spring back” makes them lose secure footing and feel vulnerable to slipping. Acceleration data from head drops is not a good measure of impact protection as it is just one component of the complex system that generates injury. The MitiGator™ reduces acceleration in simple head drop tests by 90% or more, but in addition The MitiGator™ dissipates as much as 80% of the energy of an impact rather than storing it for eventual release to the crew.
Developed for use in hi-speed boats when crew members are standing during operation. The MitiGator™ Technology includes anti-skid coverings that prevent slipping by crew, does not harm deck surfaces and reduces energy transmitted to knees and back. Allows crew to operate longer and more efficiently. Evaluated by the Navy and found to be "fantastic" at dissipating the energy of repeated impacts during hi-speed operations. Standard sizes mat are 16" X 32" x 1" and 24" X 24" X 1 " and is available in 30, 40 or 50 durameter elastomers or lighter weight Lite Duty or Medium Duty foams, depending on the protection required. The mats can be made to custom sizes for your applications.
SEAS' deck mat system (utilizing one layer of The MitiGator™ Technology) dissipates much of the energy of impacts and prevents that energy from passing through to the human body, thus reducing the level of injury sustained. The system is as effective against repeated impacts (high speed boats or ground vehicles) as it is against one-time events (crash landings). The MitiGator™utilized in the deck mat has been shown to attenuate as much as 80% more energy than other systems. The MitiGator™ technology is an engineered system; specific MitiGator™configurations can be designed for specific applications. Along with its good energy-attenuating characteristics, The MitiGator™ has the added advantage of returning to its original configuration after impact, making it suitable for repeated impacts. The deck mat is made of materials that will survive in a marine environment. Studies have also shown that the system also acts as a vibration attenuating system as well. This reduces fatigue and pain, allowing crewmembers to concentrate on the mission or task at hand.