9
Important - Lap Strap Safety
Lap Strap Fitting
The angle that the hip belt is attached to the seating
system has a direct effect on the angle of pull on the
pelvis.
Considerations:
•
A 60° angle of attachment to the seat rail positions
the hip belt anterior and inferior to the ASIS, which
reduces the tendency of the client with a posterior
pelvic tilt to slip underneath the belt.
•
A higher angle of attachment of the primary straps
encourages a posterior pelvic tilt, which assists in
positioning clients with an anterior pelvic tilt.
•
The secondary straps of a 4-point hip belt are
attached to the seat post between 45° and 90°
to hold the primary padded strap in place and to
prevent the belt from riding into the abdomen or
twisting.
•
The angle of attachment may have to be
compromised in order to accommodate such
situations as wounds in the pelvic area, unstable
hip joints or gastric tubes.
Tightening the belt
Keep belt tightened at adjustment straps during fitting
and daily use to ensure correct pad placement. For
padded hip belts the pads are to be touching when
correctly tightened. For non-padded hip belts the
adjustment strap at the buckle should be approximately
3” (76mm) long. Education of the care giver is essential
for correct hip belt positioning.
Sizing
Measure hip width to determine the belt size required.
The suggested method for measuring hip width is from
trochanter to trochanter. If this is not possible, measure
from ASIS to ASIS and add a couple of inches. The
correct belt size for the individual has padding that
covers all of the bony prominences.
•
Always check that the child’s pelvis is symmetrical
and positioned securely at the back of the seat.
•
Always ensure that the lap straps and chest
harness hold the child securely and are
comfortable. Ensure they provide a snug fit, a
simple rule of thumb is to allow two fingers to be
inserted between the belt and the childs body.
•
Never leave a child in a chair unattended without
the lap strap being fastened.
•
A lap strap should always be fitted if a harness is
being used.
•
When altering the angle between the seat and
the back of the chair always re-adjust the chest
harness and lap strap accordingly to ensure all
safety recommendations are followed.
!
Chest
Harness
Fitting
The cross strap on
the chest harness
must be fitted no
higher than the
sternum (mid
chest).
All straps &
harnesses must
be securely
fitted to the
back of the
chair.
Incorrect fitting of lap straps can put the user at serious risk. When using lap straps we recommend
the following points should always be adhered to:
Harness and Lap Strap Positioning
This diagram shows the recommended positioning of the chest harness and lap straps:
Primary Lap
Strap Fitting
Primary Lap Strap
Fitting
Secondary lap
strap fitting (four-
point lap strap)