Climbing A Flight Of Stairs; Descending A Curb Or Single Step - TiLite Rigid TR Series Owner's Manual

C. CLIMBING A FLIGHT OF STAIRS
WARNING
TiLite does not recommend that its wheelchairs be transported up or down stairways with the
user in the wheelchair.
However, TiLite recognizes that wheelchair users may, on occasion, have no other choice. Only if
you have no alternative, you should follow these steps to climb up a flight of stairs.
1. NEVER attempt to negotiate more than one step unless you have two (2) able-bodied adult
assistants.
2. ALWAYS position the chair and rider facing away from the stairs, with one assistant at the rear
(facing away from the stairs) and one at the front of the chair (facing the rider).
3. The assistant at the rear of the chair is in control of this procedure. He or she must tilt the chair
back to its balance point on the rear wheels. NEVER attempt to lift a wheelchair by lifting on any
removable (detachable) parts, including upholstery.
4. The second assistant at the front must firmly grasp a non-detachable part of the front frame with
both hands and lift the chair up and over one stair at a time.
5. Each assistant then carefully moves up to the next stair.
6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 for each stair, until you reach the landing.
7. When you reach the landing, the assistants should roll the chair backward on the two rear
wheels until the front casters have cleared the last step, at which point the assistants can gently
lower the front casters to the landing.
If you ignore these Warnings, you may fall, tip over or lose control of the wheelchair and seriously
injure yourself or others or damage the wheelchair.
D. DESCENDING A CURB OR SINGLE STEP
WARNING
1. NEVER attempt to negotiate a curb or single step without assistance.
2. When you are still several feet 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 obstacle.
3. NEVER attempt to negotiate any such obstacle facing forward.
4. Instruct your assistant to carefully step backwards, pulling the chair backwards, until he or she is
off the curb or 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 your assistant to carefully pull the chair 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 your 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 front
casters off the upper level.
7. Instruct your assistant to slowly roll the chair backward on the rear wheels, taking small steps
until the front casters have cleared the step or curb and, when clear, to gently lower the front
casters to the ground at the lower level.
If you ignore these Warnings, you may fall, tip over or lose control of the wheelchair and seriously
injure yourself or others or damage the wheelchair.
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TiLite ® OM000007 - Rev. B