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SECTION 2—SAFETY/HANDLING OF WHEELCHAIRS
Part No. 1110546 9 Tracer® EX2
SECTION 2—SAFETY/HANDLING OF WHEELCHAIRS
Safety/Handling of Wheelchairs
Safetyandhandlingofthewheelchairrequirethecloseattentionofthewheelchairuseraswellastheassistant.Thismanual
pointsoutthemostcommonproceduresandtechniquesinvolvedinthesafeoperationandmaintenanceofthewheelchair.
Itisimportanttopracticeandmasterthesesafetechniquesuntilyou
arecomfortableinmaneuveringaroundthefrequently
encounteredarchitecturalbarriers.
Usethisinformationonlyasabasicguide.Thetechniquesthatarediscussedonthefollowingpageshavebeenused
successfullybymany.
Individualwheelchairusersoftendevelopskillstodealwithdailylivingactivitiesthatmaydifferfromthosedescribed
in
thismanual.Invacarerecognizesandencourageseachindividualtotrywhatworksbestforhim/herinovercoming
architecturalobstaclesthattheymayencounter.However,allwarningsandcautionsgiveninthi smanualMUSTbeheeded.
Techniquesinthismanualareastartingpointforthenewwheelchairuserandassistant
with“safety”asthemostimportant
considerationforall.
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 rec-
ommends ordering the seat positioning strap as an additional safeguard for the wheelchair user.
The seat positioning strap is a positioning 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.
Toassurestabilityandproperoperationofyourwheelchair,youMUSTmaintainproperbalanceatalltimes.Your
wheelchairhasbeendesignedtoremainuprightandstableduringnormaldailyactivitiesaslongasyoudonotmove
beyondthecenterofgrav ity.
Virtuallyallactivitieswhichinvolvemovementinthe
wheelchairhaveaneffectonthecenterofgravity.Invacare
recommendsusingseat/chestpositioningstrapsforadditionalsafetywhileinvolvedinactivitiesthatshiftyourweight.
DONOTleanforwardoutofthewheelchairanyfurtherthanthelengthofthearmrests.Makesurethecastersarepointing
intheforward
positionwheneveryouleanforward.Thiscanbeachievedbyadvancingthewheelchairandthenreversing
itinastraightline.
Coping With Everyday Obstacles
Copingwiththeirritationofeverydayobstaclescanbealleviatedsomewhatbylearninghowtomanageyourwheelchair.
Keepinmindyourcenterofgravitytomaintainstabilityandbalance.
A Note to Wheelchair Assistants
Whenassistancetothewheelchairuserisrequired,remembertousegoodbodymechanics.Keepyourbackstraightand
bendyourkneeswhenevertippingthewheelchairortraversingcurbs,orotherimpediments.
DONOTattempttoliftthewheelchairbyanyremovable(detachable)parts.Liftingbymeansofanyremovable(detachable)
partsofthewheelchairmayresultininjurytotheuserordamagetothewheelchair.
Ifthewheelchairisexposedtoextremetemperature(above100°Forbelow32°F),highhumidityand/orbecomeswet,prior
touse,ensurehandgripsdonottwistonthewheelchair’shandle‐otherwisedamageorinjurymay
occur.
Also,beawareofdetachablepartssuchasarmrestsorlegrests.TheseMUSTNEVERbeusedtomovethewheelchairoras
liftingsupports,astheymaybeinadvertentlyreleased,resultinginpossibleinjurytotheuserand/orassistant(s).
Whenlearninganewassistancetechnique,haveanexperiencedassistanthelpyou
beforeattemptingitalone.