SECTION 2—SAFETY/HANDLING OF WHEELCHAIRS

Part No. 1110546 9Tracer® EX2
SECTION 2—SAFETY/HANDLING OF WHEELCHAIRS

Safety/Handling of Wheelchairs

Safetyandhandlingofthewheelchairrequirethecloseattentionofthewheelchairuseraswellastheassistant.Thismanual
pointsoutthemostcommonproceduresandtechniquesinvolvedinthesafeoperationandmaintenanceofthewheelchair.
Itisimportanttopracticeandmasterthesesafetechniquesuntilyouarecomfortableinmaneuveringaroundthefrequently
encounteredarchitecturalbarriers.
Usethisinformationonlyasabasicguide.Thetechniquesthatarediscussedonthefollowingpageshavebeenused
successfullybymany.
Individualwheelchairusersoftendevelopskillstodealwithdailylivingactivitiesthatmaydifferfromthosedescribedin
thismanual.Invacarerecognizesandencourageseachindividualtotrywhatworksbestforhim/herinovercoming
architecturalobstaclesthattheymayencounter.However,allwarningsandcautionsgiveninthismanualMUSTbeheeded.
Techniquesinthismanualareastartingpointforthenewwheelchairuserandassistantwith“safety”asthemostimportant
considerationforall.

Stability and Balance

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.You r
wheelchairhasbeendesignedtoremainuprightandstableduringnormaldailyactivitiesaslongasyoudonotmove
beyondthecenterofgravity.
Virtuallyallactivitieswhichinvolvemovementinthewheelchairhaveaneffectonthecenterofgravity.Invacare
recommendsusingseat/chestpositioningstrapsforadditionalsafetywhileinvolvedinactivitiesthatshiftyourweight.
DONOTleanforwardoutofthewheelchairanyfurtherthanthelengthofthearmrests.Makesurethecastersarepointing
intheforwardpositionwheneveryouleanforward.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‐otherwisedamageorinjurymayoccur.
Also,beawareofdetachablepartssuchasarmrestsorlegrests.TheseMUSTNEVERbeusedtomovethewheelchairoras
liftingsupports,astheymaybeinadvertentlyreleased,resultinginpossibleinjurytotheuserand/orassistant(s).
Whenlearninganewassistancetechnique,haveanexperiencedassistanthelpyoubeforeattemptingitalone.