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Invacare Atlas Mobility Aid User Manual

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SECTION 2—SAFETY/HANDLING OF WHEELCHAIRS

Atlas™ 12 Part No. 1130169

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

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.

ƽ WARNING

DO NOT attempt to reach objects if you have to move forward in the seat or pick

them up from the floor by reaching down between your knees.

Manyactivitiesrequirethewheelchairownertoreach,bendandtransferinandoutofthe

wheelchair.Thesemovementswillcauseachangetothenormalbalance,thecenterof

gravity,andtheweightdistributionofthewheelchair.Todetermineandestablishyour

particularsafetylimits,practicebending,reachingand

transferringactivitiesinseveral

combinationsinthepresenceofaqualifiedhealthcareprofessionalbeforeattempting

activeuseofthewheelchair.

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