TiLite Rigid Aero Z Series, Owner'S Manual

Page: 17 / 102

TiLite ® OM000007 - Rev. B
9
Important rules that will help to reduce the risk of a fall during a transfer are discussed below:
1. ALWAYS work with your health care advisor to learn safe transfer methods.
2. ALWAYS ask your health care advisor to teach you proper body positioning during a transfer and
how to support yourself during a transfer.
3. ALWAYS have someone assist you when you transfer until you have learned how to transfer
safely and have developed the upper body strength and coordination to transfer safely.
4. ALWAYS move your chair as close as you can to the seat (bed, etc.) to which you are
transferring. If possible, use a transfer board.
5. ALWAYS lock the rear wheels using wheel locks before you transfer. This keeps the rear wheels
from rolling. If your wheelchair is equipped with caster pin locks, ALWAYS lock them before you
transfer. Caster pin locks keep the front casters from moving. NOTE: Wheel locks and caster pin
locks will NOT keep your chair from sliding away from you or tipping.
6. If your wheels have pneumatic (inflatable) tires, ALWAYS make sure to keep the tires properly
inflated at all times. The wheel locks may slip if the tire pressure is low, which may cause the
chair to roll unexpectedly during a transfer.
7. ALWAYS rotate the front casters as far forward as possible and turn them to the seat (bed, etc.)
to which you are transferring.
8. ALWAYS remove the wheelchair armrests, or swing them out of the way, so they do not impede
your movement during the transfer.
9. If possible, ALWAYS remove the footrests, or swing them out of the way, to ensure your feet do
not get caught between the footrests. TiLite strongly recommends that you place your feet on the
floor when you are transferring to or from your chair.
10. NEVER put your weight on the footrests when you are transferring to or from your chair because
this may cause the chair to tip over and/or roll away.
11. When transferring into your chair, ALWAYS transfer as far back onto your seat as possible in
order to reduce the risk that the chair will tip over or move away from you causing you to fall.
12. If possible, ALWAYS try to avoid falling into your chair uncontrollably when transferring into your
chair. This places undue stress on your chair’s components and if your chair does start to move
or tip you will not be ready to regain control.
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.
C. DRESSING/UNDRESSING IN YOUR CHAIR
WARNING
When you engage in activities while seated in your chair such as dressing or undressing or
changing your clothes, your weight will shift. Since your attention may be directed to the activity in
question rather than maintaining your balance, your risk of falling or tipping over is increased. To
reduce this risk, get dressed or undressed or change your clothes while seated in a regular chair
or on a bed. If you must get dressed or undressed or change your clothes while seated in your
wheelchair:
1. ALWAYS rotate the front casters so they are as trailing forward. This makes the chair more
stable. NOTE: To get your front casters to trail forward, first move your chair forward past the object
you want to reach and, second, back up alongside the object. By moving backward, your front
casters will rotate and trail forward.
2. ALWAYS lock your anti-tippers in the down position so the risk of a backward tip-over is
minimized. If your chair does not have anti-tippers, back it up against a wall and lock both rear
wheels using your wheel locks.
3. If your chair is equipped with caster pin locks, ALWAYS engage them.
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.