Thanks to wheelchair user access ramps, wheelchair-friendly facilities, and various other inventions, using a wheelchair these days, is a great deal easier than it was a few decades back. Despite this however, using a manual wheelchair can still be very challenging, especially if you’re fairly new to things. Thanks to wheelchair access ramps and steps, making your way into various properties and businesses is now a great deal easier than days past, but that is simply the tip of the iceberg. Whether you yourself are confined to a wheelchair, whether you have to use one now and then, or even if you’re a caregiver to a wheelchair user, below you will find a series of helpful wheelchair user tips, which are designed to make life easier for all parties involved.
Wheelchair User Access Ramps : Pull Rather Than Push
If you’re a caregiver and you find yourself having to push the wheelchair over soft ground, rough ground, or uneven terrain where wheelchair access ramps are not available, you may find it a great deal easier to pull the wheelchair instead of pushing it. Simply pull the wheelchair backwards and you’ll be amazed by just how much difference pulling it can actually make, and how much easier it will feel.
Keep Tires Inflated
When it comes to navigating a wheelchair around, it doesn’t matter whether you’re the user, or a caregiver, one of the most important things you will ever need to do, is to ensure that your tires are inflated correctly. If you fail to keep an eye on your tires and you find that they are all of a sudden feeling a great deal flatter, actually moving the wheelchair will become much more of a struggle, and it will certainly be a great deal more physically demanding. By keeping your tires inflated, not only will you find it easier to move the wheelchair from A to B, but you will also find that your tires last much longer and that they remain in much better condition. Spare tires and repairs can be costly, so if you can save money, you should save money.
Consider Hill Holders
There are some wheelchair users out there who find it difficult to get the wheelchair up wheelchair access ramps and steep gradients. If this applies to you, don’t work too hard as this could injure you and tire you out. What you should do instead is consider purchasing what is known as a hill holder. These are devices which prevent the wheelchair from rolling backwards and down a hill on an incline, and although simple, they work incredibly well.
Wheelchair User Access Ramps Check the Chair Regularly
Just as you would any other vehicle, to keep your wheelchair working correctly you should ideally check the chair regularly, or have somebody check it for you if needed. This way you can see whether or not it is working correctly or if there is any damage to it which could affect its performance. By checking it, you can diagnose problems early and get small problems taken care of before they turn into big problems.