Safety

Electrical Ground

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:42:00 GMT

Question: My friend admires my Jazzy electric wheelchair, but he lives in a house built years ago before they wired them with the third wire ground in the electrical wall sockets. He has noticed that the charging wire on my Jazzy has a three-pronged plug for the new style electrical socket. If he buys a Jazzy like mine with a three-pronged charging wire, can he use an adapter with three female holes for his charging plug but with the two male prongs to fit his old-style electrical wall outlets? What effect would that have on his Jazzy? ~Wallace

Answer: Probably, although without the ground his wheelchair won't be protected against short circuits or surges. If it's a new chair, this could nullify your warranty. It is best to check with American Mobility, the company that manufacturers the Jazzy line, to see what they advise you to do.

Storing a Wheelchair

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:42:00 GMT

Question: What's the best way to store a wheelchair so that it doesn't need to be charged every night? ~Helen

Answer: - When storing your wheelchair you should always fully charge the batteries before storing it. You should then check all batteries once a month and recharge them if needed. Wet batteries should be able to hold a charge for up to three months and sealed batteries should be able to hold a charge for up to six months. If you're storing your wheelchair or scooter for more than two weeks you should charge the batteries and then disconnect them. You should also avoid hot and cold extremes when storing a wheelchair, scooter and batteries. However you can store MK Gel batteries in temperatures as low as -25ºF without freezing, as long as they are fully charged. The self-discharge rate of fully-charged wheelchair batteries is very low in these conditions and they usually won't need to be recharged for a few months. If your gel batteries become frozen though, they won't always recover. Remember you should never use an automotive or wet type charger on gel/sealed batteries as they will eventually ruin your battery.

Battery Charging Safety

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:42:00 GMT

Question: What are the safety considerations regarding the charging of electric wheelchair and scooter batteries? Is it true that they shouldn't be charged in the bedroom where you are sleeping due to the danger of fire and vapor hazards? ~Susan

Answer: - Batteries can be dangerous objects and they should be recharged in well-ventilated spaces. There are two types of batteries used for wheelchairs - wet and gel type batteries. With a wet battery you have to add distilled water to it about every two months. These batteries can be permanently damaged if the water level falls below the level of the battery plates. It can be difficult adding water to wet batteries as they are generally heavy and hard to reach. If you have a wet battery you should use distilled water only. Tap water contains minerals that can damage the battery. Don't overfill the battery either. If the outside of the battery is wet then it has been overfilled. You should fill it to about 1/8- inch below the ring in the hole. If you can't see very well you should use a flashlight to see the level properly. If the battery is overfilled the battery acid will leak and will ruin the battery connections. Make sure you don't short circuit the battery terminal with any metal as the sparks could ignite the gas in the battery and cause an explosion. Don't smoke when charging the battery and don't get battery acid on your skin or in your eyes. You should always use gloves and eye protection when handling a battery. When finished, makes sure you replace the caps on the battery tightly and wipe up any spills.

Wheelchair Lights

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:41:00 GMT

Question: My father saw a wheelchair in San Diego that had small front wheels which lit up and sparkled - similar to the lights you see on children's shoes. Can you direct me to a site or company that makes these? ~Jessica

Answer: - I assume that these lights were mainly used for decorational purposes; however I suppose any lights on a wheelchair may be a good safety feature at night. I know you can buy front and rear safety lights for wheelchairs, but I haven't been able to locate any large manufacturers of decorational wheelchair lights. This person may have added the lights to the wheelchair themselves or bought the lights at a novelty shop. I do know people like to decorate their wheelchairs for various occasions such as Christmas. I've seen many wheelchairs decked out with Christmas lights over the years. Many scooter owners also dress their machines to the nines. Some people add stereos, lights, mirrors and generally rebuild and customize their scooters to make them convenient and comfortable. However, when customizing or modifying a wheelchair or scooter you need to make sure you aren't jeopardizing its safety. You should also make sure that any modifications you make won't affect your warranty or guarantee.

Reflective Clothing

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:41:00 GMT

Question: I am trying to find high-visibility clothing and/or wheelchair accessories for a friend who travels via electric wheelchair. Her only visibility device is a small flashing red light that clips on. I am aware of bicycle store reflective tape and reflectors, but I was hoping to find something specifically designed for wheelchairs. ~Michele

Answer: Your friend is on the right track. Bicycle lights, which are lights designed to clip onto bicycles or wheelchairs, can increase her visibility to motorists. However sometimes a flashing light isn't enough. Blinking red lights can also be clipped to the rear of her wheelchair and highly visible clothing also found in bicycle shops should also be worn. These highly visible items aren't specific to wheelchair users but will work just as effectively. Bicycle shops offer a wide variety of visible clothing with reflective tape; battery operated flashing lights and reflectors. Just make sure the clothing you buy doesn't restrict your friend's motion.

Built-in Wheelchair Sensors

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:41:00 GMT

Question: My mother is experiencing difficulty in her electric wheelchair because of left neglect. Is there a product, a sensor for example that would beep if she gets too close to something on the left side?

Answer: There are wheelchair accessories available that have built in sensors. These units are commonly used by blind people. You wear an electronic device around your neck or hold it in your hand and the device's sensors and ultrasound technology can detect obstacles, doors, curbs, steps, etc. If anything is in the path of the wheelchair user it will warn you. These accessories are made by Nurion Industries and are called the Wheelchair Pathfinder and Polaron. There are also some robotic types of wheelchairs that work on the same premise. These are basically computer-operated navigation systems. The wheelchair itself uses infrared, sonar and bump detectors along with a built in, on-board processor. These devices all help to keep the wheelchair away from obstacles and to keep the chair centered in a hallway or room. If one or more of the sensors indicates that the wheelchair is getting to close to an object, then the wheelchair will correct itself automatically to stay clear of the obstacle. These navigation systems have been in the development stage for a few years, so I'm not exactly sure which models, if any, are currently on the market and where.

Maneuvering Instructions

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:40:00 GMT

Question: I was wondering if you know of a website that might have patient instructions on how to maneuver manual and electric wheelchairs? ~Kat

Answer: - It's a good idea to learn how to use your wheelchair properly for your safety and the safety of others. When you purchase your wheelchair you should ask to be shown how to maneuver it properly, how to maintain and take care of at, and ask any other questions you may have regarding it before buying it. There are also various websites on the internet that will give you tips and instructions on how to maneuver and take care of wheelchairs (try tsaofoundation.org). Simply type the keyword "wheelchairs" or the phrase "how to use a wheelchair" into your Internet search engine.

Wheelchairs in Snow

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:40:00 GMT

Question: If there's ice on a sidewalk or ramp, how does a wheelchair maneuver safely? Is there such a thing as ice chains for wheelchairs like there is for car tires? ~Denny

Answer: - Like most other vehicles, wheelchairs can be hard to control on snow and ice. Around 1993 there were two companies that made tire chains for wheelchairs to increase traction in mud, sand, ice or snow. The chains were ideal for manual and motorized wheelchairs along with three-wheeled scooters, but the chains have been discontinued. The best type of wheelchair to use in the winter would be an all terrain model. However, if you don't own one the best type of wheelchair tires to use during the winter months are pneumatic tires as they are filled with air. Some independent tests have shown that rear wheel drive wheelchairs operate better in the snow and ice. To make sure you have easy access to ramps in the winter they should always be cleared of ice and snow when possible. If it's not possible to have them physically cleared, then salt or sand should be sprinkled on them for better traction. Portable electric snow melting mats may also come in handy for wheelchair ramps during the winter. If possible, it's always a good idea to have somebody accompany you if you have to travel by wheelchair in icy conditions.

Maneuvering on Carpet

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:40:00 GMT

Question: My aunt is in a nursing home where they recently carpeted the hallways and rooms. As a result, she is having difficulty maneuvering her wheelchair. She manages, but with much more effort than previously. Is there any retro-fit in wheels/tires, etc. that might help her chair to roll easier? Or, she would consider a chair upgrade. She is not interested in a power-driven chair. ~Denny

Answer: - If you try to propel your manual wheelchair on certain types of thick or plush carpets with thick under pads it can feel like moving through quick sand. However, since your aunt lives in a nursing home you are restricted to whatever type of flooring they have. The carpets are new so they may eventually settle better with time. The problem with conventionally laid carpeting is that it often tends to roll up after constant wheelchair traffic. Heavy rolling wheelchairs often cause carpets to bunch up. Carpeting is usually installed by nailing it to a track at the edges of a room, but the carpet in the middle of the floor isn't held down which causes it to bunch up. One solution to this is to glue the entire carpet to the under pad. If your aunt still has a problem after a month or so, you could try using different wheels or tires on the wheelchair to help solve the problem.

Wheelchair Driving Tests

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:39:00 GMT

Question: Is a driving test required before using an electric wheelchair outside?

Answer: - As far as I know there are no tests required in North America, but it is a good idea. Some wheelchair manufacturers were considering making people pass a driving test before selling them a specific model of wheelchair. This was supposed to be the case for the iBot wheelchair. It's possible that a dealer or doctor may want you to show that you can handle a specific wheelchair before you're allowed to purchase it. This may be the case for high end, expensive, technologically advanced wheelchairs. As for the rest of the world, it's possible some countries require you to pass a test. This has been a controversial topic in Britain lately and wheelchair driving tests could eventually be brought into effect as a result of many accidents involving power wheelchairs. There have even been a few deaths that have resulted from wheelchair accidents. For example, one lady died after accidentally reversing her wheelchair over a cliff. It's very important that you use your common sense when driving a wheelchair and the rules of the road should always be followed.

Pushing Wheelchairs

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:39:00 GMT

Question: I work for a care company and today I was posed with a question about the safe use of wheelchairs. I am aware there is a weight limit for the standard wheelchair, but is there a way of finding out the maximum weight a care giver can push in relation to their own weight or even just a maximum weight that they can push regardless of their own weight? ~Laura

Answer: This is an interesting question as most people may think the wheelchair does most of the work when it's being pushed. Once a wheelchair is moving along a straight floor, it is relatively easy to push, but starting to push a wheelchair with somebody sitting in it will take some strength. It will also take some strength when you maneuver a wheelchair around tight corners, tilt it backwards, pull it backwards and push it up inclines. A care giver must know how to properly push a wheelchair with somebody in it or they could suffer aches and pains or even injury. There are some wheelchair training courses available to teach people how to properly push a wheelchair, but to get back to your specific question about how much weight should you be pushing, I think you would have to contact somebody such as a doctor for a professional opinion.

Curbs and Ramps

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:39:00 GMT

Question: Can you refer me to any information on the proper use of wheelchairs, for example how to go over curbs and down ramps, etc.? ~Don

Answer: Three factors will affect your stability when driving your wheelchair - speed, terrain and incline. For example, driving too quickly down a steep ramp or over rough gravel might cause you to fall forward out of your chair. Here are a few helpful tips for driving a wheelchair up and downhill:

When driving down a ramp or steep hill shift your weight back in your wheelchair.
For added balance when going downhill, hook your non-driving arm around the backrest of your wheelchair.
Lean your head and shoulders forward when driving up a steep hill or ramp.
Installing straps - such as lap belts, chest straps or an across-the-shoulder-style automotive belt will keep you from getting dumped out of your wheelchair.
Recline your wheelchair's back support when attempting a steep downward angle.
Never recline your back support when going uphill as your wheelchair could tip backwards.
Test your stability on hills (down and up) ramps and over rough terrain with a spotter before trying them alone.

Speed Reduction

Editor — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 22:38:00 GMT

Question: Is there a device that can be added to a manual wheelchair that will reduce the speed at which it rolls? A cognitively impaired person is able to roll their wheelchair at a rapid rate of speed; which is not safe for other individuals in the vicinity. ~Toni

Answer: As far as I know there is nothing on the market that is built specifically for reducing the speed of a manual wheelchair. I suppose the wheelchair may be slowed down if you tried different wheels or tires on it, or if the wheelchair was made harder to propel. However, you should never try to modify or change somebody’s wheelchair for obvious safety reasons. Changing or modifying a wheelchair may also void the warranty on the chair and it could also make you liable if the person using the wheelchair is involved in an accident or injures themselves using the wheelchair. If the person agrees to it, I would try the wheel and tire change to see if that works. If not, I would recommend talking to the person regarding your concern for other people’s safety. The only other solution I can think of would involve buying the person a chair that doesn’t travel as fast, as long as they agreed to it.