Specifications

GUIDELINES:

SAFETY & HANDLING OF WHEELCHAIRS

Center of Gravity, Balance and Stability

The transport wheelchair has been designed to be safe and stable during normal transport

activity as long as proper balance is maintained. The point at which a wheelchair will tip

forward, backward, or to the side depends on its center of balance. To assure stability and

proper operation of the wheelchair, the center of gravity must be maintained in the chair.

Center of gravity is the point at which all the weight of an object can be considered to be

concentrated and represents the balance point.

Most activities such as transferring in and out of the wheelchair, bending, and reaching

affect the center of gravity and weight distribution of the wheelchair. Addition of accessories

such as a backpack will also re-distribute weight. Loss of proper balance may cause the

chair to tip over. Use of the seat belt is advised to help maintain stability by minimizing

movement within the wheelchair seat. The use of anti-tip devices (available only for

MDS808200SLR /C models), especially when maneuvering on ramps or inclines, will also

enhance safety.

Transport wheelchairs are designed for safe and efficient transport with someone pushing

the chair. Transport wheelchairs are not intended for independent use by wheelchair bound

individuals. The design does not allow maneuvering by the occupant.

To determine safety limits of the transport chair, practice with activities such as transferring,

bending, and reaching with a healthcare professional that is knowledgeable about

wheelchair use.

To assure safe operation of the transport wheelchair, ALL of the Warnings and Instructions

in this manual must be followed. Failure to do so may result in tipping the wheel chair over

or causing the user to fall which may result in serious bodily injury or damage to the

wheelchair.

Some basic wheelchair safety guidelines follow. The guidelines are critical for standard

wheelchair use, however, the principles also hold true for transport chairs. If any of the

following activities are required while using the transport chairs, these guidelines must be

followed to ensure safety and to avoid potential injury to the user or the transporter and to

avoid damage to the chair.

Reaching / Leaning / Bending – FORWARD or SIDEWAYS

• Position the wheelchair as close as possible to the object.

• Make sure the front casters are pointing in a forward position. This extends the wheel

base and will help stabilize the chair.

• Make sure the wheel locks are engaged before activity.

• DO NOT attempt to reach for objects if doing so means you must move forward in the

seat. DO NOT shift your weight toward the direction you are reaching.

• DO NOT attempt to reach objects if you have to pick them up from the floor by reaching

down between your knees.

• DO NOT shift your weight or seat position toward the direction you are reaching.