PAGE 9
Class 1 Medical
Rev. 2
Climbing a curb or single step – Method 1
To climb over a curb or single step have the front of
the wheelchair facing the obstacle and advise your
assistant to stand at the rear of your wheelchair and
apply a continuous downward motion. This will tip the
wheelchair about the rear wheels thereby lifting the
front caster of the ground. As a balance point is
achieved and the front casters clear the curb, instruct
your assistance to roll the wheelchair forward and
slowly lower the front caster to the upper level as they
are beyond the edge of the curb or step. Following,
instruct your assistant to lift and roll the rear wheels
up to the upper level.
Climbing a curb or single step – Method 2
Unless the first assistant has exceptional upper body
strength, it is recommended that METHOD 2 uses two
(2) assistants. The second assistant should be
positioned at the front of the wheelchair lifting upward
on a non-removable (non-detachable) part of the
wheelchair frame when lifting and stabilizing the
wheelchair and when the wheelchair is being lowered
to the ground. The first assistant should stand on the
sidewalk and turn the wheelchair so that the rear
wheels are against the curb. The wheelchair should be
tilted back to the balance point and, in one continuous
downward movement, the rear wheels should be
pulled up and over the curb. DO NOT return the front
casters to the ground until the wheelchair has been
pulled backward far enough for the front casters to
clear the edge of the curb.
Descending a curb or single step
WARNING:
NEVER attempt to descend down any curb or obstacle facing forward.
To descend from a curb or a single step, position your
wheelchair so that the front of the wheelchair is facing
away from the curb a couple of meters and ask your
assistant to stand behind your wheelchair. Next,
instruct your assistant to step down the curb and
carefully pull the wheelchair backwards. As the rear
wheels roll over the edge of the curb, allow them to
slowly roll down the rear wheels to the lower level.
Once the rear wheels are safely on the lower level
instruct your assistant to tip the chair about the rear
wheels, lifting the casters off the upper level and
continue to slowly roll the wheelchair backwards
taking small steps until the front casters have cleared
the curb or single step and they can be lowered to the
ground at the lower level.
Figure 5.1:
Assistant positioning
for climbing curbs single steps –
method 1
Figure 5.2:
Assistant positioning for
climbing curbs or single steps-
method 2
Figure 5.3:
Assistant positioning
for climbing curbs single steps –
method 1
Summary of Contents for BENTLEY
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