TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS – RIGID WHEELCHAIRS | USER MANUAL
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6.4.9 RAMPS AND SIDE HILLS OF 10 FEET (3 METERS) OR
MORE IN LENGTH
• If you must go through a slope or a vertical rise of 10 feet (3
meters) or more, the angle of the slope should not exceed 5.7
degrees, which corresponds to a 10% slope that is a rise of 3.28
feet (1.00 meter) for a distance of 10 meters.
• Make sure to be assisted by a caregiver if you have trouble on
the slope or if the slope is between 5.7 and 10 degrees.
• Shift your weight in the same direction as the slope to adjust
your center of gravity.
• Stay in the center of sidewalks and ensure there is enough
space for the wheels.
• Try to move straight up or down the slope.
• Avoid turning on a downhill slope.
• Avoid stopping on slopes and never use the wheel locks to slow
yourself on a downhill slope.
• Keep pressure on the handrims to control your speed.
• Do not ride on wet or slippery surfaces. Be cautious for changes
in terrain height or stairs at the end of a slope (casters may lock
from simply hitting a small bump).
• Do not use your wheelchair on your own on slopes or hill of
more than 10 feet (3 meters) in length if the angle of the slope
is greater than 5.7 degrees (10%).
6.4.10 OBSTACLES
• Always look for obstacles or road hazards such as potholes and
broken surfaces.
• Clear your own environment (work, home) of any obstacles.
Never use objects (furniture, ramps, and doorknobs) to push
yourself out of the wheelchair.
• Lean your upper body slightly forward as you move up an
obstacle; do the reverse while moving down an obstacle.
• Keep both hands on the handrims while passing over the obsta-
cle.
6.4.11 CURBS AND STEPS
• Curbs and steps are extremely dangerous obstacles.
• NEVER attempt to go up or down a single curb or step without
an assistant unless you are a very skilled rider of your chair.
You need to have previously learned to safely do a wheelie in
your chair and be sure of having the strength and balance to
control your chair during any such maneuver.
• ALWAYS unlock and rotate anti-tippers up and out of
the way so they do not prevent you from executing this maneu-
ver.
• NEVER attempt to climb or descend a curb or step more than 4”
(10 cm) high.
• ALWAYS go straight up or down a curb or step. NEVER climb or
descend at an angle.
• ALWAYS be aware that the impact of dropping down
from a curb or step can damage your chair or cause compo-
nents to become loose.
If you perform such maneuvers, inspect your chair more fre-
quently.
• ALWAYS rotate and lock the anti-tippers back to ride safely.
6.5 MOVING WITH ASSISTANCE
Caregivers should read the
6.3 Caregivers
section of this manual.
6.5.1 CLIMBING A CURB OR SINGLE STEP
WARNING
1. NEVER attempt to negotiate a curb or single step without
assistance.
2. Instruct your assistant to stand behind your wheelchair,
with the front of the wheelchair facing the obstacle.
3. NEVER attempt to negotiate any such obstacle backward.
4. Instruct your assistant to tilt the chair up on the rear
wheels so that the casters clear the curb or step.
5. Instruct your assistant to slowly move the chair forward
and gently lower the casters to the upper level as soon as
you are sure that they are beyond the edge of the curb or
step.
6. Instruct your assistant to continue rolling the chair for-
ward until the rear wheels are on the curb or step.
7. Instruct your assistant to lift and roll the rear wheels up to
the upper level.
8. Instruct your assistant to never attempt to completely lift
the wheelchair with the push handles.
6.5.2 DESCENDING A CURB OR SINGLE STEP
WARNING
1. NEVER attempt to negotiate a curb or single step without
assistance.
2. When you are still several feet or a couple of meters from
the edge of the curb or step, instruct your assistant to
stand at the rear of your wheelchair and turn it around to
face away from the curb.
3. NEVER attempt to negotiate any curb or similar obstacle
facing forward.
4. Instruct the assistant to carefully step backwards, pulling
the wheelchair backwards, until he or she is off the curb or
single stair and standing on the lower level.
The assistant should watch his or her step over his or her
shoulder when going backwards this way.
5. Instruct the assistant to carefully pull the wheelchair
backward until the rear wheels reach the edge of the curb
or step, then allow the rear wheels to slowly roll down to
the lower level.
6. Instruct the 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 rear wheels off the upper level.
7. Instruct the assistant to slowly roll the wheelchair
backward on the rear wheels, taking small steps until the
casters clear the step or curb and, when clear, to gently
lower the casters to the ground at the lower level.
8. Instruct your assistant to never attempt to completely lift
the wheelchair with the push handles.
6.5.3 STAIRS
• Use an elevator wherever possible.
• Ask for help from two people to move the wheelchair up or
down stairs.
Caregivers should read the
6.3 Caregiver
s section of this manu-
al to safely assist you.
• Fasten your seat belt when being lifted in the wheelchair. Assis-
tants should always grab the frame of the wheelchair to lift you.
NEVER grab the push handles, back canes, wheels, footrest or
any moving parts to lift the wheelchair.
