General Guidelines - Pride JAZZY Manual

I I . S A F E T Y

GENERAL GUIDELINES

MANDATORY! Do not operate your new power chair for the first time without completely reading
and understanding this owner's manual.
Your power chair is a state-of-the-art life-enhancement device designed to increase mobility. Pride provides an
extensive variety of products to best fit the individual needs of the power chair user. Please be aware that the final
selection and purchasing decision regarding the type of power chair to be used is the responsibility of the power
chair user, who is capable of making such a decision, and his/her healthcare professional (i.e., medical doctor,
physical therapist, etc.).
The contents of this manual are based on the expectation that a mobility device expert has properly fitted the
power chair to the user and has assisted the prescribing healthcare professional and/or the authorized Pride Pro-
vider in the instruction process for the use of the product.
There are certain situations, including some medical conditions, where the power chair user will need to practice
operating the power chair in the presence of a trained attendant. A trained attendant can be defined as a family
member or care professional specially trained in assisting a power chair user in various daily living activities.
As you begin using your power chair during daily activities, you will probably encounter situations in which you
will need some practice. Simply take your time and you will soon be in full and confident control as you maneuver
through doorways, on and off of elevators, up and down ramps, and over moderate terrain.
Below are some precautions, tips, and other safety considerations that will help you become accustomed to oper-
ating your power chair safely.
Modifications
Your power chair has been designed and engineered to provide maximum mobility and utility. A wide range of
accessories is available from Pride to further customize your power chair to better suit your needs and/or prefer-
ences. However, under no circumstances should you modify, add, remove, or disable any feature, part, or function
of your power chair.
WARNING! Do not modify your power chair in any way not authorized by Pride. Do not use
accessories if they have not been tested or approved for Pride products.
Pre-Ride Safety Check
Get to know the feel of your power chair and its capabilities. Pride recommends that you perform a safety check
before each use to make sure your power chair operates smoothly and safely.
Perform the following inspections prior to using your power chair:
Check for proper tire inflation. Maintain but do not exceed the psi/bar/kPa air pressure rating indicated on each
tire if equipped with pneumatic tires.
Check all electrical connections. Make sure they are tight and not corroded.
Check all controller connections to the power base. Make sure they are secured properly.
Check the brakes. See VII. "Care and Maintenance."
Check battery charge. See VI. "Batteries and Charging."
NOTE: If you discover a problem, contact your authorized Pride Provider for assistance.
Jazzy Select Elite www.pridemobility.com
Weight Limitations
Your power chair is rated for a maximum weight capacity. Please refer to the specifications table for this limit.
Keep in mind that the maximum weight capacity includes the combined weight of the user and any accessories
mounted to the power chair.
MANDATORY! Stay within the specified weight capacity of your power chair. Exceeding the
weight capacity voids your warranty. Pride will not be held responsible for injuries and/or
property damage resulting from failure to observe weight limitations.
WARNING! Do not carry passengers on your power chair. Carrying passengers on your power
chair may affect the center of gravity, resulting in a tip or a fall.
Tire Inflation
If your power chair is equipped with pneumatic tires, you should check or have the air pressure checked regularly.
Proper inflation pressures will prolong the life of your tires and help ensure the smooth operation of your power chair.
WARNING! It is important that the psi/bar/kPa air pressure rating indicated on the tire be maintained
in pneumatic tires at all times. Do not underinflate or overinflate your tires. Low pressure may result
in loss of control, and overinflated tires may burst. Failure to maintain the psi/bar/kPa air pressure
rating indicated on the pneumatic tires at all times may result in tire and/or wheel failure.
WARNING! Inflate your power chair drive tires from a regulated air source with an available
pressure gauge. Inflating your tires from an unregulated air source could overinflate them,
resulting in a burst tire.
NOTE: If the tire on your power chair lists the psi rating only, use the following conversion formulas to find
the bar or kPa rating: bar = psi x 0.06895; kPa = psi x 6.89476.
Incline Information
More and more buildings have ramps with specified degrees of inclination, designed for easy and safe access.
Some ramps may have turning switchbacks (180-degree turns) that require you to have good cornering skills on
your power chair.
Proceed with extreme caution as you approach the downgrade of a ramp or other incline.
Take wide swings with your power chair's front wheels around any tight corners. If you do that, the power
chair's rear wheels will follow a wide arc, not cut the corner short, and not bump into or get hung up on any
railing corners.
When driving down a ramp, keep the power chair's speed adjustment set to the slowest speed setting to ensure
a safely controlled descent.
Avoid sudden stops and starts.
When climbing an incline, try to keep your power chair moving. If you must stop, start up again slowly and then
accelerate cautiously. When driving down an incline, set your power chair to the slowest speed setting and drive
in the forward direction only. If your power chair starts to move down the incline faster than you anticipated or
desired, allow it to come to a complete stop by releasing the joystick, then push the joystick forward slightly to
ensure a safely controlled descent.
WARNING! When on any sort of an incline or decline, never place the power chair in
freewheel mode while seated on it or standing next to it.
WARNING! When climbing an incline, do not zigzag or drive at an angle up the face of
the incline. Drive your power chair straight up the incline. This greatly reduces the
possibility of a tip or a fall. Always exercise extreme caution when negotiating an
incline.
WARNING! You should not travel up or down a potentially hazardous incline (i.e.,
areas covered with snow, ice, cut grass, or wet leaves).
WARNING! Never travel down an incline backward. Doing so may cause the power
chair to tip. Always exercise caution when negotiating an incline.
9 10
I I . S A F E T Y
www.pridemobility.com Jazzy Select Elite