Article: A Bed Time Boost – The Crew Report

She points out that where you sleep within a room can have an effect on your health too. The culprit? Air-conditioning. “If you are on the bottom bunk you are usually OK but those on the top may have the air flow directed towards them. If this is on all night then the stream of cold air hitting your muscles leads to them cramping up and severe muscle shortening and torticollis follows.”

What can you do? Start by turning the mattress every month and flipping it at the same time. Dickens says almost no one does this and it is one of the most important things to do, to ensure the mattress wears evenly. A mattress topper can also help if the mattress you are using is too hard

Assess your mattress for wear and tear and, if needed, see if arranging a new one is an option. Diane Schrader, personal bedding consultant with E J Schrader Mattress Company, says to cheek for mattress edges that are breaking down, latex coming through the cover (in the case of latex mattresses), bunching of the mattress cover, diesel or saltwater odours or a body depression of more than one inch; all signs your mattress could be ready to retire.

New developments in mattress technology can make all the difference to a sound night’s sleep and options like organic and chemical-free mattresses are growing in popularity. Schrader says she personally has tested, and liked, a new latex foam on the market that regulates body temperature, bringing it up if you are too cold or down if you are too hot, within 45 minutes. “We are seeing some owners allowing their crew to come into the factory and make their own comfort selections.” says Schrader. “We consult with the crew when we are making their mattresses. By doing this we can make the mattress to [meet] their special needs, like back issues and pressure points.”

Not able to have a new mattress installed? En Premiere’s Spacerflex mattress support system has been designed in response to crew feedback and can be installed in under a minute. It slips under your existing mattress, comes in soft, medium or firm variations, and is made of insulating fabric, isotex. With 100 individual elastomer springs per square metre, body weight is spread evenly and it opens a ventilated space of 40 millimetres between cushion and support to lessen the effects of damp. Like a mattress topper, Spacerflex is also easily removable, so you can take it with you to use on other beds, ensuring a sound sleep, wherever you find yourself.