Curbs/Steps; Hills/Slopes/Ramps - TiLite TRA AERO T Owner's Manual

CHAPTER 1: WARNINGS
4. INSTALL ramps at entry or exit doors from your residence. Make sure the transition from such ramps to the
pavement or other surface is smooth and does not have an abrupt drop-off.
5. ALWAYS make sure the floors where you live and work are level.
6. KEEP all floors where you live and work free of obstacles and hazards.
7. When riding UP and over an obstacle, lean your upper body slightly FORWARD.
8. When riding DOWN from a higher to a lower level, press your upper body BACKWARD lightly.
9. ALWAYS keep both hands on the handrims as you go over an obstacle.
10. NEVER push or pull on any object, such as a door knob or door jamb or furniture, in order to propel your chair.
11. If your chair has anti-tips, lock them in place before you go UP over an obstacle.
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.
H. CURBS/STEPS
I WARNING
Curbs and steps are extremely dangerous obstacles.
1. NEVER attempt to go up or down a single curb or step without an assistant UNLESS:
a. you are a very skilled rider of your chair; and
b. you have previously learned to safely do a "wheelie" in your chair; and
c. you are sure you have the strength and balance to control your chair during any such maneuver.
2. ALWAYS unlock and rotate anti-tips up and out of the way so they do not prevent you from executing this
maneuver.
3. Even if you are a highly skilled rider, NEVER attempt to climb or descend a curb or step more than 4" high.
4. ALWAYS go straight up or down a curb or step. NEVER climb or descend at an angle.
5. 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.
If you are not highly skilled at tilting the chair, or the step or the curb is more than 4" high, ALWAYS have an assistant
help you negotiate curbs and steps. Your assistant must first read the Warnings contained in this Manual in their
entirety, especially the sections titled "Climbing a Curb or Single Step", "Climbing a Flight of Stairs", "Descending a
Curb or Single Step" and "Descending a Flight of Stairs" on pages 1-4 to 1-6.
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.
I. HILLS/SLOPES/RAMPS
I WARNING
The center of balance of your chair is affected by the slope of the surface over which you are riding. Because your
center of balance will be affected, your chair will be less stable when it is at an angle. This is especially true when
riding on a slope sideways. Furthermore, do not assume anti-tips will prevent a fall or tip-over under these conditions.
The following rules may help to avoid a fall or tip-over:
1. ALWAYS go up or down a slope, hill or ramp as straight as possible. If you try to cut the corner, you will be
traversing the slope, hill or ramp sideways to the slope and your risk of tipping over sideways will increase.
2. NEVER use your chair on a slope greater than 10%—a slope with an elevation greater than one foot in height for
every ten feet in length.
3. NEVER stop on a steep slope. If you stop on a steep slope, you may not be able to maintain control of the chair.
4. NEVER use rear wheel locks as a brake to slow or stop your chair. Wheel locks are NOT brakes. Doing so will
most likely cause the chair to veer out of control.
5. NEVER try to turn around or change direction when going up or down a slope.
6. ALWAYS stay in the CENTER of a ramp.
7. NEVER start up or down a ramp unless you are certain the ramp is wide enough for its entire length so your
wheels will not fall off the edge.
8. In order to control your speed, ALWAYS keep pressure with your hands on the handrims when going down a hill,
slope or ramp. DO NOT go too fast. Excessive speed may cause you to lose control of your chair, or it may cause
your casters to flutter which can cause a fall or tip-over.
Aero T/TRA Owner's Manual
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