Invacare Atlas SECTION 2SAFETY/HANDLING OF WHEELCHAIRS

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.Tech niq ues 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.
 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.