Table of Contents
Advertisement
3.4
Negotiating obstacles: steps and stairs
Always take the utmost care when dealing with the situations described below.
GOING UP AND DOWN A STEP BY YOURSLEF
Never attempt to negotiate steps or other obstacles that are over 20 cm (6 inches) in height.
When faced with particularly challenging obstacles, always seek assistance to ensure that such manoeuvres are performed with ease and safely.
Before negotiating a step, or overcoming an obstacle in general, on your own (i.e. without the presence of an assistant), you must have good control of your wheelchair and know how to
Perform controlled tipping (wheelies), keeping your balance on the rear wheels.
Going down
Bring the wheelchair right up to the leading edge of the obstacle.
Raise the front castors by tilting the wheelchair while maintaining balance.
Move the rear wheels carefully down to the obstacle; during this phase hold the handrails to control the descent.
Once the rear wheels have descended the obstacle, tilt the wheelchair forward until the front castors touch the ground again.
Going up
Bring the wheelchair right up to the leading edge of the obstacle.
Raise the front wheels and tip the chair back while maintaining balance.
Using the hand rims, carefully move the rear wheels forwards until they touch the edge of the step.
Tip the wheelchair forward until the front castors rest on the upper surface of the obstacle.
Lean forward in the chair so that the rear of the chair is lighter.
Grasp the hand rims tightly and move the rear wheels forwards to push them on top of the obstacle.
Joker Energy / Noir 2.0 21
Advertisement
Table of Contents
