USER MANUAL | FOLDING WHEELCHAIRS – RIDING YOUR WHEELCHAIR
NOTE: If you ignore these Warnings or fail to inspect or maintain your wheelchair as directed in the manual , you may fall, tip over or lose control of the wheelchair and seriously
injure yourself or others or damage the wheelchair.
14
– he caregiver should always remain in the bottom of the slope
to retain the wheelchair.
– Always lock the anti-tip in the safe position.
– Follow the same words of caution for a hill or a slope of 10%
or less.
– Do not use your wheelchair on a ramp under 3 meters in length if
the slope angle is greater than 10 degrees (17.63%).
RAMPS OF 10 FEET (3 METERS) OR MORE IN LENGTH
– If you must go through a slope or a vertical rise of 10 feet
(3 meters) or more, the angle of the slope should not exceed
5.7 degrees, which corresponds to a 10% slope is a rise of
1 meter for a distance of 10 meters.
– Make sure to be assisted by a caregiver if you have trouble on the
slope or if the slope is between 5.7 and 10 degrees.
– Try to move straight up or down the slope. Avoid turning on a
downhill slope.
– Stay in the center of sidewalks and ensure that there is enough
space for the wheels.
– Avoid stopping on slopes and never use the wheel locks to slow
yourself on a downhill slope. Maintain your speed by holding the
hand rims.
– Do not ride on wet or slippery surfaces. Be cautious for changes
in terrain height or stairs at the end of a slope (front casters may
lock from simply hitting a small bump).
– Ask for help should any situations arise.
– Incline yourself while moving down a slope as to adjust your
center of gravity.
– Do not use your wheelchair on your own on slopes or hill of
more than 10 feet (3 meters) in length if the angle of the slope is
greater than 5.7 degrees (10%).
6.4.9 OBSTACLES
– Always look for obstacles or road hazards (potholes, broken
surfaces, etc.).
– Clear your own environment (work, home) of any obstacles. Never
use objects (furniture, ramps, and doorknobs) to push yourself out
of the wheelchair.
– Lean your upper body slightly forward as you move up an ob-
stacle.
– Do the reverse while moving down an obstacle. Keep both hands
on the hand rims while passing over the obstacle.
6.4.10 CURBS AND STEPS
– Curbs and steps are extremely dangerous obstacles.
– NEVER attempt to go up or down a single curb or step without
an assistant unless you are a very skilled rider of your chair. You
need to have previously learned to safely do a wheelie in your
chair and you are sure you have the strength and balance to
control your chair during any such maneuver.
– ALWAYS unlock and rotate anti-tippers up and out of the way so
they do not prevent you from executing this maneuver.
– NEVER attempt to climb or descend a curb or step more than
4” high.
– ALWAYS go straight up or down a curb or step. NEVER climb or
descend at an angle.
– ALWAYS be aware that the impact of dropping down from a curb
or step can damage your chair or cause components to become
loose. If you perform such maneuvers, inspect your chair more
frequently.
– ALWAYS Rotate and lock the anti-tippers back to ride safely.
6.5 MOVING WITH ASSISTANCE
Caregivers should read the 6.3 Caregiver section of this manual.
6.5.1 CLIMBING A CURB OR SINGLE STEP
WARNINGS
1. NEVER attempt to negotiate a curb or single step without
assistance.
2 Instruct your assistant to stand at the rear of your
wheelchair, with the front of the wheelchair facing
the obstacle.
3. NEVER attempt to negotiate any such obstacle backward.
4. Instruct your assistant to tilt the chair up on the rear wheels
so that the front casters clear the curb or step.
5. Instruct your assistant to slowly move the chair forward and
to gently lower the casters to the upper level as soon as you
are sure that they are beyond the edge of the curb or step.
6. Instruct your assistant to continue to roll the chair forward
until the rear wheels contact the face of the curb or step.
7. Instruct your assistant to lift and roll the rear wheels up to
the upper level.
8. Instruct your assistant to never attempt to completely lift the
wheelchair with the push-handles.
6.5.2 DESCENDING A CURB OR SINGLE STEP
WARNINGS
1. NEVER attempt to negotiate a curb or single step without
assistance.
2. When you are still several feet or a couple of meters from
the edge of the curb or step, instruct your assistant to stand
at the rear of your wheelchair and turn it around so you are
facing away from the curb
3. NEVER attempt to negotiate any curb or similar obstacle fac-
ing forward.
4. Instruct the assistant to carefully step backwards, pulling
the wheelchair backwards, until he or she is off the curb or
single stair and standing on the lower level. The assistant
should watch his or her step over his or her shoulder when
backing up in this manner.
5. Instruct the assistant to carefully pull the wheelchair
backward until the rear wheels reach the edge of the curb or
step, and to then allow the rear wheels to slowly roll down to
the lower level.
6. Instruct the assistant that, when the rear wheels are safely
on the lower level, he or she may then tilt the chair
backward to the balance point of the rear wheels, thereby
raising the casters off the upper level.
7. Instruct the assistant to slowly roll the wheelchair backward
on the rear wheels, taking small steps until the casters have
cleared the step or curb and, when clear, to gently lower
the casters to the ground at the lower level.
8. Instruct your assistant to never attempt to completely lift the
wheelchair with the push-handles.
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