Invacare EX2 SECTION 2SAFETY/HANDLING OF WHEELCHAIRS

SECTION 2—SAFETY/HANDLING OF WHEELCHAIRS
Part No. 1110546 9Tracer® EX2
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
 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.
Toassurestabilityandproperoperationofyourwheelchair,youMUSTmaintainproperbalanceatalltimes.You r
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.
Coping With Everyday Obstacles
Copingwiththeirritationofeverydayobstaclescanbealleviatedsomewhatbylearninghowtomanageyourwheelchair.
Keepinmindyourcenterofgravitytomaintainstabilityandbalance.
A Note to Wheelchair Assistants
Whenassistancetothewheelchairuserisrequired,remembertousegoodbodymechanics.Keepyourbackstraightand
bendyourkneeswhenevertippingthewheelchairortraversingcurbs,orotherimpediments.
DONOTattempttoliftthewheelchairbyanyremovable(detachable)parts.Liftingbymeansofanyremovable(detachable)
partsofthewheelchairmayresultininjurytotheuserordamagetothewheelchair.
Ifthewheelchairisexposedtoextremetemperature(above100°Forbelow32°F),highhumidityand/orbecomeswet,prior
touse,ensurehandgripsdonottwistonthewheelchair’shandle‐otherwisedamageorinjurymayoccur.
Also,beawareofdetachablepartssuchasarmrestsorlegrests.TheseMUSTNEVERbeusedtomovethewheelchairoras
liftingsupports,astheymaybeinadvertentlyreleased,resultinginpossibleinjurytotheuserand/orassistant(s).
Whenlearninganewassistancetechnique,haveanexperiencedassistanthelpyoubeforeattemptingitalone.