Invacare ProntoTM M6 Owner's Manual page 9

GENERAL GUIDELINES
Coping With Everyday Obstacles
Coping with the irritation of everyday obstacles can
be alleviated somewhat by learning how to manage
your wheelchair. Keep in mind your center of gravity
to maintain stability and balance.
A Note to Wheelchair Assistants
When assistance to the wheelchair user is required,
remember to use good body mechanics. Keep your
back straight and bend your knees whenever tilting
wheelchair or traversing curbs, or other impediments.
Also, be aware of detachable parts such as arms or
the footboard. These must NEVER be used for hand-
hold or lifting supports, as they may be inadvertently
released, resulting in possible injury to the user and/
or assistant(s).
When learning a new assistance technique, have
an experienced assistant help you before attempt-
ing it alone.
Stairways
WARNING
DO NOT attempt to move an occupied
power wheelchair between floors using a
stairway. Use an elevator to move an occu-
pied power wheelchair between floors. If
moving a power wheelchair between floors
by means of a stairway, the occupant MUST
be removed and transported independently
of the power wheelchair.
Extreme caution is advised when it is necessary
to move an UNOCCUPIED power wheelchair
up or down the stairs. Invacare recommends
using two (2) assistants and making thorough
preparations. Separate the front frame assem-
bly of the wheelchair from the rear frame
assembly of the wheelchair. Make sure to use
ONLY secure, non-detachable parts for hand-
hold supports.
DO NOT attempt to lift the wheelchair by any
removable (detachable) parts. Lifting by
means of any removable (detachable) parts
of a wheelchair may result in injury to the user
or damage to the wheelchair.
Follow this procedure for moving the wheelchair
between floors when an elevator is NOT available:
WARNING
The weight of the wheelchair without the user
and batteries is 153 lbs. Use proper lifting tech-
niques (lift with your legs) to avoid injury.
1. Remove the occupant from the wheelchair.
2. Separate the front frame assembly of the wheel-
chair from the rear frame assembly of the wheel-
chair. Refer to TRANSPORTING THE WHEEL-
CHAIR in PROCEDURE 10 of the manual.
3. Remove the battery boxes from the wheelchair.
Refer to INSTALLING/REMOVING THE BAT-
TERIES in PROCEDURE 9 of this manual.
4. Bend your knees and keep your back straight.
5. Using non-removable (non-detachable) parts of
the wheelchair, lift the front frame assembly off
of the ground and transfer it up or down the stairs.
6. The front frame assembly should not be low-
ered until the last stair has been negotiated and
the front frame assembly has been carried away
from the stairway.
7. Repeat STEPS 4-6 for the rear frame assem-
bly.
ESCALATORS? SORRY!
DO NOT use an escalator to move a wheelchair
between floors. Serious bodily injury may occur.
Transferring to and From Other Seats
WARNING
ALWAYS turn the wheelchair power OFF and
engage the motor locks to prevent the
wheels from moving BEFORE attempting to
transfer in or out of the wheelchair. Also, make
sure every precaution is taken to reduce the
gap distance by aligning both the front AND
rear casters parallel with the object you are
transferring onto.
CAUTION
When transferring, position yourself as far back
as possible in the seat. This will prevent bro-
ken screws, damaged upholstery and the
possibility of the wheelchair tipping forward.
NOTE: This activity may be performed independently
provided you have adequate mobility and upper body
strength.
1. Position the wheelchair as close as possible
along side the seat to which you are transfer-
ring, with the rear casters pointing away from it.
9
PROCEDURE 1
G
E
N
E
R
A
G
U
D
E
N
E
S
L
I
L
I