Bending/Leaning/Reaching - Permobil Aero Z 2 Series Owner's Manual

CHAPTER 1: WARNINGS
Important rules that will help to reduce the risk of a fall during a transfer are discussed below:
1. ALWAYS work with your health care advisor to learn safe transfer methods.
2. ALWAYS ask your health care advisor to teach you proper body positioning during a transfer and how to support
yourself during a transfer.
3. ALWAYS have someone assist you when you transfer until you have learned how to transfer safely and have developed
the upper body strength and coordination to transfer safely.
4. ALWAYS move your chair as close as you can to the seat (bed, etc.) to which you are transferring. If possible,
use a transfer board.
5. ALWAYS lock the rear wheels using wheel locks before you transfer. NOTE: Wheel locks will NOT keep your chair from
sliding away from you or tipping.
6. If your wheels have pneumatic (inflatable) tires, ALWAYS make sure to keep the tires properly inflated at all times.
The wheel locks may slip if the tire pressure is low, which may cause the chair to roll unexpectedly during a transfer.
7. ALWAYS rotate the casters as far forward as possible and turn them to the seat (bed, etc.) to which you are
transferring.
8. ALWAYS remove the wheelchair armrests, or swing them out of the way, so they do not impede your movement during
the transfer.
9. If possible, ALWAYS remove the footrests, or swing them out of the way, to ensure your feet do not get caught between
the footrests. Permobil Manual strongly recommends that you place your feet on the floor when you are transferring
to or from your chair.
10. NEVER put your weight on the footrests when you are transferring to or from your chair because this may cause the
chair to tip over and/or roll away.
11. When transferring into your chair, ALWAYS transfer as far back onto your seat as possible in order to reduce the risk
that the chair will tip over or move away from you causing you to fall.
12. If possible, ALWAYS try to avoid falling into your chair uncontrollably when transferring into your chair. This places
undue stress on your chair's components, and if your chair does start to move or tip you will not be ready to regain
control.
C. BENDING/LEANING/REACHING
I WARNING
When you bend, reach or lean from your chair you will affect the center of balance of your chair. Therefore, bending,
reaching or leaning may cause you to fall or tip over. In order to avoid falling or tipping over, you must determine your
particular safety limitations given the configuration of your chair and your body weight and type. To do this, practice bending,
reaching and leaning activities (and various combinations of such activities) under the supervision of your health care advisor.
Do this BEFORE attempting active use of your chair. The following will help you avoid falling or tipping over when bending,
reaching or leaning from your chair:
1. NEVER bend, reach or lean in a way that requires you to move forward in your seat.
2. ALWAYS keep your buttocks in contact with the backrest and the seat cushion when bending, reaching or leaning.
3. NEVER shift your weight in the same direction you are bending, reaching or leaning.
4. NEVER reach or lean to the rear unless your chair has anti-tips locked in place.
5. NEVER reach with both hands. By keeping one hand free, you may be able to catch yourself to prevent a fall if the chair
starts to tip.
6. NEVER reach or lean over the top of the seat back. If you do so you may damage the seat back tubes, which could
cause you to fall.
7. ALWAYS move your chair as close as possible to the object you are trying to reach.
8. NEVER shift your weight to the footrests.
9. NEVER try to pick up an object from the floor by reaching down between your knees. You are less likely to tip over if you
reach to the side of your chair when picking up an object on the floor.
10. DO NOT lock the rear wheels when bending, reaching or leaning backward. Locking the rear wheels creates a tip point
and makes falling or tipping over more likely.
11. When bending or leaning, ALWAYS grasp one rear wheel with one hand. This will help to prevent a fall if the chair starts
to tip over.
12. ALWAYS rotate the casters until they are trailing forward. This will make the chair more stable. NOTE: To get your casters
to trail forward, first move your chair forward past the object you want to reach and, second, back up alongside the object.
By moving backward, your casters will rotate and trail forward.
Permobil Aero Z & ZRA Owner's Manual 1-7 OM0004-ENGLISH_Rev E_Aero Z_ZRA