As cases of coronavirus rise again, it’s important to remain vigilant about reducing our risk of catching it. This can be more difficult for wheelchair users who have to use more shared equipment, such as your disabled ramp and hand rails. Having to touch the same things as other people makes it harder to keep your hands clean. Wheelchair users may also find it harder to socially distance. The following tips will help reduce the risk and keep you healthy.
Clean your hands after using a disabled ramp and other equipment
Washing your hands as soon as you have completed a journey is very important. Your wheels can pick up the virus from the ground and transfer it to your hands. Wash your hands for 20 seconds or use a greater than 60% alcohol-based hand sanitiser. If you can, avoid touching the wheels of your chair in any way, and use only the rims. Though wheelchair gloves can help with pushing, they are harder to keep clean than hands.
When using shared equipment such as rails on wheelchair ramps or grab handles, sanitise your hands immediately afterwards. Many people will have touched these items so it’s vital to be very vigilant.
Keep your wheelchair clean
You should clean your wheelchair as often as possible, and always after returning from outside. A good tip is to soak cloths in warm soapy water and then push your wheelchair around whilst holding them for a while. Wet wipes can also be used for this task. You should also wipe down the seat, armrests, backrest, foot rests and brake handles on a regular basis. If someone pushes your chair for you, the handles should also be cleaned regularly. Coronavirus can survive for more than a day on a hard surface, so a chair that is carrying it could potentially infect you after you have returned home and washed your hands.
Keep your home clean
As well as being vigilant about keeping yourself and your chair clean, you need to make sure your home is clean too. This includes door handles, grab bars, rails on disabled ramps and other items you regularly touch. This is particularly important if you share your home or have people coming in to assist you. It’s easy to spread the virus around your home if you touch things without washing your hands. Make sure the first thing you do when returning home is to thoroughly wash your hands. You should insist visitors do the same when entering your home. For extra safety, use hand sanitiser before going inside your house, to try to be as clean as possible before touching your door, ramp or grab bars.
Although it’s a worrying time, by being vigilant about hygiene you can hugely reduce your risk of getting ill. By thoroughly cleaning your hands, wheelchair and home you can continue to enjoy life.