932060 Rev. A
W a r n i n g s : F a l l s a n d T i p - o v e r s
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E n g l i s h
6. nEVER use rear wheel locks to try to slow or stop your chair. This is likely to cause
your chair to veer out of control.
7. Beware of:
a. Wet or slippery surfaces.
b. A change in grade on a slope (or a lip, bump or depression). These may cause a
fall or tip-over.
c. A drop-off at the bottom of a slope. A drop-off as small as 18 mm can stop a front
caster and cause the chair to tip forward.
8. To reduce the risk of a fall or tip-over:
a. Lean or press your body UPHILL. This will help adjust for the change in the centre
of balance caused by the slope or sidehill.
b. Keep pressure on the handrims to control your speed on a down slope. If you go
too fast you may lose control.
c. Ask for help any time you are in doubt.
9. Ramps at home and work - For your safety, ramps at home and work must meet all
legal requirements for your area. We recommend:
a. Width. At least 1.2 m wide.
b. Guardrails. To reduce the risk of a fall, sides of ramp must have guardrails (or
raised borders at least 75 mm high).
c. Slope. not more than a 10% grade.
d. Surface. Flat and even, with a thin carpet or other non-skid material. (Make sure
there is no lip, bump or depression).
e. Bracing. Ramp must be STURDY. You may need bracing so ramp does not “bow”
when you ride on it.
f. Avoid a drop-off. You may need a section at the top or bottom to smooth out the
transition.
If you fail to heed these warnings, damage to your chair, a fall, tip-over or loss of control may occur
and cause severe injury to the user or others.
G. TRAnSFER
WARnInG
It is dangerous to transfer on your own. It requires good balance and agility. Be aware
that there is a point during every transfer when the wheelchair seat is not below you.
To avoid a fall:
1. Work with your health care advisor to learn safe methods.
a. Learn how to position your body and how to support yourself during a transfer.
b. Have someone help you until you know how to do a safe transfer on your own.
2. Lock the rear wheels before you transfer. This keeps the rear wheels from rolling.
noTE— This will noT keep your chair from sliding away from you or tipping.
3. Make sure to keep pneumatic tyres properly inflated. Low tyre pressure may allow
the rear wheel locks to slip.
4. Move your chair as close as you can to the seat you are transferring to. If possible, use
a transfer board.
5. Rotate the front casters until they are as far forward as possible.
6. If you can, remove or swing footrests out of the way.
a. Make sure your feet do not catch in the space between the footrests.
b. Avoid putting weight on the footrests as this may cause the chair to tip.
7. Make sure armrests are out of the way and do not interfere.
8. Transfer as far back onto the seat surface as you can. This will reduce the risk that the
chair will tip or move away from you.
If you fail to heed these warnings, damage to your chair, a fall, tip-over or loss of control may occur
and cause severe injury to the user or others.
