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Invacare 1073955 Mobility Aid User Manual

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SECTION 2—SAFETY/HANDLING OF WHEELCHAIRS

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16 Part No. 1073955

SECTION 2—SAFETY/HANDLING OF

WHEELCHAIRS

Safety/Handling of Wheelchairs

Safetyandhandlingofthewheelchairrequirethecloseattentionofthewheelchairuser

aswellastheassistant.Thismanualpointsoutthemostcommonproceduresand

techniquesinvolvedinthesafeoperationandmaintenanceofthewheelchair.Itis

importanttopracticeandmasterthesesafetechniquesuntilyouarecomfortablein

maneuveringaroundthefrequentlyencounteredarchitecturalbarriers.

Usethisinformationonlyasabasicguide.Thetechniquesthatarediscussedonthe

followingpageshavebeenusedsuccessfullybymany.

Individualwheelchairusersoftendevelopskillstodealwithdailylivingactivitiesthat

maydifferfromthosedescribedinthismanual.Invacarerecognizesandencourageseach

individualtotrywhatworksbestforhim/herinovercomingarchitecturalobstaclesthat

theymayencounter.However,allwarningsandcautionsgiveninthismanualMUSTbe

heeded.Techniquesinthismanualareastartingpointforthenewwheelchairuserand

assistantwith“safety”asthemostimportantconsiderationforall.

Stability and Balance

ƽ WARNING

ALWAYS wear your seat positioning strap. Inasmuch as the seat positioning strap is

an option on this wheelchair (you may order with or without the seat positioning

strap), Invacare strongly recommends ordering the seat positioning strap as an

additional safeguard for the wheelchair user. The seat positioning strap is a position-

ing belt only. It is not designed for use as a safety device withstanding high stress

loads such as auto or aircraft safety belts. If signs of wear appear, belt MUST be

replaced immediately.

Toassurestabilityandproperoperationofyourwheelchair,youMUSTmaintainproper

balanceatalltimes.Yourwheelchairhasbeendesignedtoremainuprightandstable

duringnormaldailyactivitiesaslongasyoudonotmovebeyondthecenterofgravity.

Virtuallyallactivitieswhichinvolvemovementinthe

wheelchairhaveaneffectonthe

centerofgravity.Invacarerecommendsusingseat/chestpositioningstrapsforadditional

safetywhileinvolvedinactivitiesthatshiftyourweight.

DONOTleanforwardoutofthewheelchairanyfurtherthanthelengthofthearmrests.

Makesurethecastersarepointingintheforward

positionwheneveryouleanforward.

Thiscanbeachievedbyadvancingthewheelchairandthenreversingitinastraightline.

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