User Manual
Issue No: 14 | 2015
13
Transferring to and from other seats
WARNING
RGK does NOT recommend that your wheelchair
be transported up or down stairways with you in
it.
WARNING
DO NOT attempt to lift the wheelchair by any
removable (detachable) parts. Lifting by means of
any removable (detachable) parts of a wheelchair
may result in injury to you the assistants and
damage your wheelchair.
NOTE
Wheelchair Assistants
When assistance to the wheelchair user is required,
remember to use good body mechanics. Keep your
back straight and bend your knees whenever titling
the wheelchair or traversing kerbs, or any other
impediments.
NOTE
This activity may be performed independently
provided you have adequate mobility and upper
body strength. Position the chair as close as possible
along side the seat to which you are transferring, with
the front castors pointing toward it, engage wheel
locks. Shift body weight into seat with transfer.
During independent transfer, little or no seat platform
will be beneath you. Use a transfer board if at all
possible.
WARNING
DO NOT attempt to reach objects if you have to move
forward in the seat or pick them up from the floor by
reaching down between your knees.
WARNING
The position of the footrest, camber tube and rear
seat height, as well as the tautness of the back
upholstery are directly related to the chairs stability.
Any change to one or any combination of the four
may cause the chair to decrease in stability. Use
EXTREME caution when using a new seating position
for the first time.
Many activities require the wheelchair owner to reach,
bend and transfer in and out of the wheelchair. These
movements will cause a change to the normal balance,
the centre of gravity, and the weight distribution
of the wheelchair. To determine and establish your
particular safety limits, practice bending, reaching and
transferring activities in several combinations in the
presence of a qualified health professional BEFORE
attempting active use of the wheelchair.
Proper positioning is essential for your safety. When
reaching, leaning, bending or bending forward, it is
important to use the front castors as a tool to maintain
stability and balance. See Fig 10.
User Manual | Handling of Wheelchairs
Fig 10
Castors pointing forward
