Greencare DB1J 13, User Manual

Page: 25 / 32

TRANSPORTATION WITH OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE
Belts should not be used as a means of
securing an uncooperative wheelchair
occupant in position.
A basic security seat belt may be required
after a period of use, if the environment or
method of use changes, or where the
occupant feels a need for greater security in
the wheelchair. The DB1 frame incorporates
belt fitting points, and belts can be fitted
retrospectively if not originally provided with
the wheelchair.
Transportation of wheelchairs and
occupants in vehicles
Users should understand that the greatest
risk in transportation is when embarking and
disembarking of the wheelchair occupant. A
preferred initial consideration is for the
wheelchair occupant to transfer to a standard
vehicle seat during a journey, with the
wheelchair stored separately and securely.
This however is often not practical when other
aspects of use are taken into account.
If transfer is possible the vehicle seat should
be suitable for the occupant to sit in
throughout the journey.
The occupant should also be able to carry out
the transfer operation with minimal handling
assistance from carers, in the restricted
vehicle space. Carers should not get involved
in unsafe lifting practices.
Storage areas in vehicles should be secure. A
flying wheelchair or component part can
cause a lot of damage and injury if it strikes
anyone.
For the independent occupant who choses to
travel in a wheelchair, good accessibility into
confined spaces is important when using the
allocated spaces on public transport, such as
low floor buses. Greencare DB1 S with short
manoeuvrable frame and wheelbase is
recommended for initial consideration for this
aspect of use.
Use of Four point tie downs and
occupant restraints in specialist vehicles
The DB1 wheelchair incorporates integrated
attachment points for wheelchair and
occupant restraints. Training is available for
carers and transport providers by safety
restraint manufacturers, such as Unwin Ltd
Attention should be given to the following
important safety guidelines.
The wheelchair should be secured to the floor
in a forwards facing direction.
The wheelchair and occupant should be
secured to the vehicle independently.
The wheelchair tie down should be secured to
the points indicated on the frame.
The occupant restraint is routed through the
guides on the chair frame.
More than one person should not occupy the
wheelchair.
Upper occupant restraint should be secured
to the vehicle above shoulder height.
No component of the restraint should pass
through the wheelchair wheels.
Modifications to allow the fitting of restraints
should be approved by Greencare, or an
authorised specialist.
The wheelchair back support frame should be
configured or adapted to incorporate a head
restraint feature.
Loose fitting wheelchair attachments such as
trays should be removed from the wheelchair
unless there is an overriding risk assessed
functional requirement.
23