11
2 Issue 4
Using your chair
Transfers
Warning:
If you fail to heed these warnings, a
fall or tip over may occur and cause
severe injury to you:
1. Transfers require good balance
and agility and are very
dangerous. Be aware that there
is a point during each transfer
when the wheelchair seat is not
below you.
2. To avoid a fall, you should:
!
learn how to position your
body and how to support
yourself during the transfer.
!
work with your doctor, nurse
or therapist to learn safe transfer
methods.
!
have someone help you until
you are sure you can perform
safe transfers on your own.
3. Wherever possible position your
wheelchair as illustrated in Fig. 5
and 6.
4. Always lock the rear wheels
before you transfer to keep the
chair from rolling.
Locking the rear wheels will not
always keep your chair from
sliding away from you or tipping.
5. Rotate the front castors forward
to make the chair more stable.
6. If your chair has armrests, make
sure that they are out of the way
and do not interfere.
7. Be careful of the footrests. To
avoid a trip or fall when you
transfer you should:
!
make sure that your feet do
not hang up or get caught on the
footrests.
!
avoid putting weight on the
footrests as the chair may tip
forwards.
!
If you can, remove or swing
the footrests out of the way.
Fig. 6
Fig. 5
