Wheelchair Handling: Tips & Pointers
Helping to maneuver people in wheelchairs may look easy and straightforward, but the truth is, it sometimes can be dangerous to the person sitting in the wheelchair. This action can also be hazardous to caregivers under certain situations. To avoid dangers and mishaps, we’ve conveniently put together a list of pointers that will be sure to come in handy. Take a look:
- Always make sure the brake is set when the chair is in a stationary position. When applying or releasing the brake, brace your opposite hand onto something for stability.
- Always push rather than pull the wheelchair, whenever possible. The force of pulling the wheelchair may cause the person sitting in it to fall off.
- When going over small bumps or a floor transition (a threshold or into/out of an elevator), use downward force on the back of the chair to ease pressure on the front. Fix damaged flooring or carpeting to allow smooth transitions, especially if this is an often-traveled path.
- Make sure the wheelchair user’s feet are on the footrests to prevent dragging and possible injury, as well as allow the caregiver to easily move the wheelchair.
- Be careful not to hang heavy bags or other objects on the back of the chair, as this can cause the chair to become unbalanced, tilt backward, or even flip over, especially on wheelchairs for smaller clients and children; this can be very dangerous.
- Always back down slowly when descending slopes and ramps. Never hold the wheelchair from the front; otherwise, the wheelchair user may fall off (if the slope is steep enough, of course.)
- Always make sure there is a clear pathway; you don’t want to crash into anything.
- Encourage the user to maintain his/her chair regularly. Here’s a guideline to maintaining a wheelchair: http://www.precisionrepairnetwork.com/blog/?p=1334
- Consider making a Casbar handle available. It retrofits to wheelchairs with a handle width measurement of either 16″ or 20″ and makes pushing most wheelchairs easier.
Do You Feel More Comfortable Handling a Wheelchair?
Don’t ever underestimate the possible danger level of anything, especially when you have another person’s safety in your hands. It’s always important to be extra careful. Following the tips that are mentioned above may assist you in offering better aid to someone in a wheelchair.
