Pride Mobility SPARKY Owner's Manual page 16

Reaching and Bending
Never reach, lean, or bend while driving your power chair. If it is absolutely necessary to reach, lean, or bend
while seated on your power chair, it is important to maintain a stable centre of gravity and keep the power chair
from tipping. Pride recommends that the power chair user determine his/her personal limitations and practice
bending and reaching in the presence of a qualified healthcare professional.
WARNING! Do not bend, lean, or reach for objects if you have to pick them up from
the floor by reaching down between your knees or if you have to reach over the back
of the seat. Movements such as these may change your centre of gravity and the
weight distribution of the power chair. This may cause your power chair to tip.
PROHIBITED! Keep your hands away from the tyres when driving. Be aware that loose
fitting clothing can become caught in drive tyres.
Transfers
Transferring onto and off of your power chair requires
a good sense of balance. Always have an attendant or
healthcare professional present while learning to
properly transfer yourself.
To eliminate the possibility of injury, Pride
recommends that you or a trained attendant perform the
following tasks before attempting a transfer:
Turn off the power to the controller.
Ensure your power chair is not in freewheel mode.
See III. "Your Power Chair."
Turn the caster wheels toward the transfer
destination to improve power chair stability during
transfer.
Make sure both armrests are flipped up or removed
from your power chair.
Move the leg rests aside; this will help to keep your
feet from getting caught on the front rigging during
the transfer.
Reduce the distance between your power chair and
the object you are transferring onto.
WARNING! Before transferring, position yourself as far back as possible in the power chair seat
to prevent the power chair from tipping forward during transfer.
WARNING! Avoid putting all of your weight on the power chair armrests and do not use the
armrests for weight bearing purposes, such as transfers. Such use may cause the power chair
to tip, resulting in a fall from the power chair.
WARNING! Avoid putting all of your weight on the front riggings. Such use may cause the power
chair to tip.
WARNING! The controller and controller bracket are non-load bearing items on your power chair.
Do not use the controller or controller bracket for weight bearing purposes, such as transfers.
Such use may cause damage to these components, resulting in a fall from the power chair and
personal injury.
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I I . S A F E T Y
Figure 4. Ideal Transfer Position
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