7
III. NOTICE - READ BEFORE USE
H. Riding Your Wheelchair (Continued)
•
Always look ahead for objects or obstructions that your wheelchair could
potentially strike. Striking an object or obstruction could cause your wheelchair to
tip unexpectedly resulting in a fall or loss of control. A fall or loss of control could
result in damage to your wheelchair, serious injury or death. In addition, striking an
object or obstruction could cause damage to your wheelchair. The risk of injuries
and damage to your wheelchair when striking an object or obstruction increases
with your rate of speed.
•
Using your wheelchair on public roads is extremely hazardous and is not
recommended. Wheelchair users must obey pedestrian traffic rules. Review the
traffic laws in your own state, some states do not permit wheelchair use on public
roads.
•
Your balance is affected by the slope of the surfaces you ride on. Because balance
is affected, your wheelchair will be less stable when it is at an angle. This is
especially true when riding on a slope sideways. Riding your wheelchair on a slope
could cause the wheelchair to tip unexpectedly and/or the user to lose stability
resulting in a fall or loss of control. A fall or loss of control could result in damage to
your wheelchair, serious injury or death.
•
When using your wheelchair in public or private areas (including but not limited to
crosswalks, sidewalks, neighborhoods, parking lots and parks) be alert to the
danger of motor vehicles. Due to your low position:
•When lighting is poor use reflective tape on your wheelchair and clothing.
•If you have the right-of-way always yield until the driver of the motor vehicle has
seen you.
•
Use extreme caution when propelling backward. You may be unable to see an
obstruction that could cause a tip over. Tipping over could result in damage to your
wheelchair, serious injury or death.
•
Ki Mobility does not recommend balancing on just the rear wheels with the front
casters off the ground (also known as doing a “wheelie”). A fall or tip over is very
likely and could result in damage to your wheelchair, serious injury or death. If you
choose to ignore this warning, do not attempt a wheelie unless you have been
trained by a clinical or technical professional. You should always have the
assistance of an able-bodied person prepared to prevent you from exceeding your
tipping point.
•
Do not ride your wheelchair on an escalator. Use of a wheelchair on an escalator
could cause a fall, tip-over or loss of control. A fall, tip over or loss of control could
result in damage to your wheelchair, severe injury or death.
•
Avoid getting dressed or undressed in your wheelchair. Dressing or undressing in
your wheelchair causes your weight to shift. Thus, increasing your risk of falling or
tipping over. Falling or tipping over could result in damage to your wheelchair,
serious injury or death.
•
Ki Mobility recommends using accessories such as heel loops and calf straps.
When used properly, heel loops and calf straps can aid in preventing your legs and
feet from accidentally slipping off the footplate or footrest potentially causing your
feet to become entangled in the wheelchair and its components or strike the
ground. Use of a wheelchair without accessories such as properly fitted heel loops
and calf straps can result in a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in injury.
