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Page 8 March 2005 Revision B
1.6 WHEELS
All the wheels on the Avanti have puncture free polyurethane tyres.
They are fitted with sealed roller bearings for life, and reliability, and should not
need lubrication by the user under normal conditions.
However care should be taken to avoid immersion of the wheels in water, or
pressure washing, which can cause ingress into the moving parts, and result in
deterioration of the wheel bearings. The puncture free tyres are maintenance free
and hardwearing. If however a tyre becomes damaged, the wheel should be
replaced.
1.7 MANOEUVRABILITY & SAFETY
The chair should not be parked with the occupant sitting in it.
When manoeuvring, the occupant should always be secured by means of the lap
strap provided. When pushing, the grip on the handle should be firmly grasped by
the attendant. The attendant pushing the chair should walk at a sensible speed, and
tell the occupant before changing position, tipping the chair or manoeuvring, also
paying attention to the surface conditions and avoiding uneven or soft ground
wherever possible. Shopping bags or other additional heavy loads should not be
carried in the chair.
Manoeuvrability in very tight areas will be easier, requiring less force, when the chair
and occupant are tipped to balance on the rear wheels
This is applicable particularly when negotiating kerbs. It is most important that
carers understand the best techniques for descending steps or kerbs.
Kerbs are a frequent manoeuvre, eg in transferring an occupant to and from a car,
and can result in occupant discomfort if the attendant manoeuvring the chair is
careless, and hurried.
1.7.1 Going down a kerb:
The chair castors should be taken to the edge of the kerb. The attendant pushing
should hold the chair handles firmly, pressing down on the tipping lever and at the
same time tilting the chair back.
The rear wheels can then be taken to the kerb edge and the foot removed from the
tipping lever. The chair is then lowered down the kerb on its rear wheels, with the
castor wheels facing rearwards, this prevents them jamming up momentarily as the
chair starts to move, before pivoting the chair gently to the ground, to face direction
of travel and then pushing forward.
THE OCCUPANT SHOULD NOT BE LEFT UNNATTENDED