1-6
ZR Owner’s Manual
OM0005_Rev A_ZR
CHAPTER 1: WARNINGS
6. Instruct your assistant that, when the rear wheels are safely on the lower level, he or she may then tilt the chair
backward to the balance point of the rear wheels, thereby raising the casters off the upper level.
7. Instruct your assistant to slowly roll the chair backward on the rear wheels, taking small steps until the casters
have cleared the step or curb and, when clear, to gently lower the casters to the ground at the lower level.
If you ignore these Warnings, you may fall, tip over or lose control of the wheelchair and seriously injure yourself or
others or damage the wheelchair.
E. DESCENDING A FLIGHT OF STAIRS
I
WARNING
DO NOT descend a light of stairs with the user in the wheelchair.
However, TiLite recognizes that wheelchair users may, on occasion, have no other choice. Only if you have no
alternative, you should follow these steps to descend a light of stairs.
1. NEVER attempt to negotiate more than one step unless you have two (2) able-bodied adult assistants.
2. ALWAYS position the chair and rider facing down the stairs, with one assistant at the rear (facing down the stairs)
and one at the front of the chair (facing the rider).
3. The assistant at the rear of the chair is in control of this procedure. He or she must tilt the chair back to its balance
point on the rear wheels and roll it to the edge of the irst step. NEVER attempt to lift a wheelchair by lifting on any
removable (detachable) parts, including upholstery and removable push handles or push handle grips.
4. The second assistant at the front must stand at the third step from the top and irmly grasp a non-detachable part
of the front frame (but NOT swing away hangers) with both hands. The second assistant must lower the chair one
stair at a time by letting the rear wheels roll over the stair edge. Each assistant then carefully moves down to the
next stair.
5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 for each stair, until you reach the ground level.
6. When you reach the ground level, the irst assistant should carefully lower the casters to the ground.
If you ignore these Warnings, you may fall, tip over or lose control of the wheelchair and seriously injure yourself or
others or damage the wheelchair.
WARNINGS REGARDING FALLING AND TIPPING OVER
A. CENTER OF GRAVITY—STABILITY AND BALANCE
I
WARNING
Most falls or tip-overs occur when you go beyond the center of gravity of you and your wheelchair. TiLite wheelchairs
are designed to remain stable and upright in normal daily use and activities so long as you do not exceed the center of
gravity.
Every movement you make in your chair, and the rapidity with which you move, will have an affect on your center of
gravity. The more you shift your body weight and the greater the speed at which you shift it, the greater the impact on
your center of gravity in your chair.
There is a point where your wheelchair will tip forward or backward or to the side—which is a function of your center of
gravity in the chair—its center of balance and stability. The type of chair, the setup of your chair, the options on your
