Quickie
®
Q200
®
R General Manual
253470 Rev. B
11
5.0 USING THE WHEELCHAIR
Adverse conditions
Please be aware that when driving your wheelchair in adverse conditions, e.g.
on wet grass, mud, ice, snow, or other slippery surfaces, you may experience a
reduction in the grip and traction of your wheelchair.
DANGER!
1.
We recommend you take extra precautions in these conditions,
particularly on hills and slopes; your wheelchair could become unstable
or skid causing possible injury.
2.
When you are using a Power Wheelchair take extra care with loose or
long items of clothing. Moving parts, such as wheels, can be potentially
dangerous or even fatal if clothing becomes entangled.
NOTE : Extreme variances in temperature may trigger the self protect
mechanism in the control system. If this occurs the control system will
temporarily shut down to prevent damage to the electronics or the wheelchair.
5.4 Curves
DANGER!
Full speed turns should not be attempted. If you need to turn sharply you must
reduce your speed with the joystick or speed setting. This is particularly
important when traveling across or down a slope. Disregarding this advice
could lead to your wheelchair tipping over.
WARNING!
Use indicators when changing direction (if equipped).
5.5 Breaking and Emergency stop
There are three ways to stop your wheelchair:
1.
Simplest and safest way to stop the wheelchair is to release the joystick.
This will bring the chair to a halt in a controlled manner.
2.
Pulling back the joystick will brake the chair abruptly with a fast stop.
3.
Switching the control system off while the chair is in motion will also
bring the chair to a halt.
WARNING!
1.
Switching the control system off is only to be used in an emergency
situation as the stopping action is very abrupt.
2.
Never try to stop or slow the seating system with the wheel locks
(if applicable). Wheel locks are designed to prevent the system from
moving when stopped. They are not brakes.
5.6 Driving on a slope
Your wheelchair has been designed and tested to allow its use on slopes or
gradients in standard confi guration:
7.5°
(13%)
DANGER!
1.
Elevating, tilting and leg rest adjustments can aff ect the wheelchair center
of gravity. Under certain conditions this might cause instability that could
lead to unintentional tipping. It may be necessary to carry out a risk
assessment if the wheelchair is adjusted to extremes.
2.
Stopping distances on slopes can be signifi cantly longer than on level
ground.
DANGER!
1.
In certain circumstances your wheelchair could become unstable.
2.
Before attempting to climb or descend a slope or a curb, caution should
be taken when using weight shift options (e.g. powered or recline), of the
seat and/or your body for a counter balance weight.
3.
To improve stability lean forward when driving uphill, with the seat and
back in an upright position.
4.
Alternatively sit in an upright position when travelling in a forward,
downhill direction and/or recline the seat backwards.
5.
We strongly recommend that you return the seat and back to their
home positions before attempting to climb or descend a slope. Failure to
do this may cause the wheelchair to become unstable.
6.
If you are in any doubt about the capabilities of your wheelchair on a
slope then do not attempt to drive up or down the slope/curb; try to
fi nd an alternative route.
Gradients: ascents
WARNING!
1.
When going uphill, keep the chair moving.
2.
Steer by carefully moving the joystick forward making slight left and right
adjustments as you go.
3.
If you have stopped on a hill, you should start slowly.
4.
If necessary, lean forward.
Gradients: descents:
On descents, it is important not to let the wheelchair accelerate beyond its
normal level of ground speed.
DANGER!
1.
Proceed slowly down steep descents (below the speed of 3mph/5kph),
and stop if you feel anxious.
2.
If the chair picks up speed, center the joystick to its home position to
allow it to slow, or to stop.
3.
Restart slowly and do not allow the speed to increase above what you
are comfortable with.
NOTE: The solid state controller (joystick) has the benefi t of a logic system
that will help compensate when driving along a camber or up a hill. This is
an added safety feature on your wheelchair. In addition, of course, you may
control the wheelchair speed by using the speed control.
