Descending A Curb Or Single Step; Descending A Flight Of Stairs; Warnings Regarding Falling And Tipping Over; Center Of Gravity-Stability And Balance - Permobil Aero Z 2 Series Owner's Manual

CHAPTER 1: WARNINGS
C. DESCENDING A CURB OR SINGLE STEP
I WARNING
1. NEVER attempt to negotiate a curb or single step without assistance.
2. When you are still one meter 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 casters off the upper level.
7. Instruct your assistant to slowly roll the chair backward on the rear wheels, taking small steps until the casters have
cleared the step or curb and, when clear, to gently lower the casters to the ground at the lower level.
D. DESCENDING A FLIGHT OF STAIRS
I WARNING
DO NOT descend a flight of stairs with the user in the wheelchair.
However, Permobil Manual recognizes that wheelchair users may, on occasion, have no other choice. Only if you have
no alternative,you should follow these steps to descend 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 down the stairs, with one assistant at the rear (facing down 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 and roll it to the edge of the first step. NEVER attempt to lift a wheelchair by lifting on any removable
(detachable) parts, including upholstery and removable push handles or push handle grips.
4. The second assistant at the front must stand at the third step from the top and firmly grasp a non-detachable part of the
front frame (but NOT swing away hangers) with both hands. The second assistant must lower the chair one stair at a time
by letting the rear wheels roll over the stair edge. Each assistant then carefully moves down to the next stair.
5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 for each stair, until you reach the ground level.
6. When you reach the ground level, the first assistant should carefully lower the casters to the ground.

WARNINGS REGARDING FALLING AND TIPPING OVER

A. CENTER OF GRAVITY—STABILITY AND BALANCE
Permobil Aero Z & ZRA Owner's Manual 1-5 OM0004-ENGLISH_Rev E_Aero Z_ZRA