Greencare DB1J 13, User Manual

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Handling of Heavy occupants
Using a manual wheelchair with a very heavy
occupant demands a lot. Accessibility to and
from the wheelchair ,and pushing or turning a
total heavy weight requires a lot of effort.
Comparative strength of the carer to push and
control occupant weight may be a deciding
factor for safe use.
A small lightweight carer may not be able to
safely control a wheelchair with an occupant
over 125Kg on a slope of 5 degrees or even less,
without additional assistance.
Safe operation with a very heavy occupant may
limit manual wheelchair use to level surfaces
only, with slopes and kerbs being avoided. Very
heavy occupants should understand that carers
cannot put themselves at risk through unsafe
handling practice.
Accessibility factors in the intended usage
environment such as doors, kerbs or ramps may
demand additional handling equipment,
teamwork or other mobility solutions.
Build specifications for heavy occupants
We are all getting bigger. Supply of wheelchairs
for a very heavy occupant is an increasing
requirement. When a seating system is fitted the
total occupant weight can also be increased
significantly. The Greencare DB1 can be
individually built in a relatively lightweight
specification that will meet the identified needs
of both occupant and carer.
Greencare have specific component features
that will enable a wheelchair to be individually
built to meet an identified need. In achieving this
result, the assessment, trial, and handover
process, together with ongoing preventative
maintenance procedures become increasingly
important. This should be advised to the user at
the handover.
The total occupant weight loading on the
wheelchair structure requires strengthening of
load carrying components in keeping with the
individual person, distributing and absorbing
the occupant weight over the entire frame.
Integrated frame features for suppression of
i m p a c t s h o c k s , c o n f i g u r e d w h e e l
specifications, in assessed combinations, for
strength, are included in the final wheelchair
build for a very heavy occupant.
Positioning the wheel relative to the occupant,
for ease of manoeuvrability by a carer are
important features. This needs to be trialed on
an individual basis.
Larger diameter wheels are recommended for
heavy occupant wheelchairs because they
reduce the effort to push. Greencare
recommend the availability of spare wheels for
wheelchairs when the assessment indicates
an increased level of vulnerability.
A buckled wheel, which for an independent
l i g h t w e i g h t u s e r m a y b e a s m a l l
inconvenience, becomes a serious issue for a
heavy weight person, creating increased risk
for both occupants and carers. The final
specification for an original heavyweight
occupant wheelchair may also include
additional service spares, that can be made
immediately available, when required in an
emergency.
In some circumstances it will be necessary to
reduce the warranty on component parts to 12
months because of the high usage levels in
heavy occupant applications. This will be
advised at the time of assessment.
GETTING AROUND SAFELY WITH HEAVY OCCUPANTS
14