MAO Manual

Electric Wheelchairs An electric wheelchair suitable for transport will have the same basic design as the standard wheelchair with the addition of a motor and a device for steering. The steering mechanism will depend on the physical capabilities of the patient.

Brakes Brakes on most wheelchairs are simple friction mechanisms that prevent the wheels from turning by applying friction to the wheel itself and preventing it from turning. When the brake is engaged, a metal tab applies pressure to the whel and locks it in place. .

It is important to understand that wheelchair brakes aren’t meant to slow a moving wheelchair down, but rather to prevent a stopped wheelchair from moving or rolling away. While new or well maintained brakes are generally very effective, there are some factors that can make brakes less likely to effectively stop a whelchair: - Worn Wheels: If the wheelchair’s wheels are somewhat worn, they wil make less contact with the brakes and thus be less effective at keeping the chair from moving. - Under-Inflated Tires: If a wheelchair has pneumatic (inflatable) tires and they are under-inflated, it would cause the brakes to make less contact with the wheels and in turn diminish it’s stopping power. - Poor Brake Adjustment – Occasionally brakes will need to be adjusted so as to make better contact with the wheels. This is especially true of older or poorly maintained wheelchairs. It is critical that you pay special attention to the condition of the brakes when you transport a patient with his or her own wheelchair. Some patient chairs will be in very poor shape and cause accidents.

Electric wheelchairs are known for being very heavy, so they are difficult to maneuver manually. Luckily, electric wheelchairs are self-propelled, so the patient can maneuver the chair for him or herself. The MAVO will generally not need to push or otherwise maneuver the chair unless the electric wheelchair loses power or otherwise breaks down. Wheelchair Design Features While wheelchairs come in various types and configurations, there are some features to wheelchairs that are common and define wheelchair use. Being familiar with them will allow the MAVO to better use wheelchairs to move patients. Wheelbase A typical wheelchair has two fixed wheels in the back, and two smaler rotating casters in the front. The rear wheels do not steer the chair – they are designed to roll over obstacles such as steps or curbs. The front wheels provide the chair with all direction changing ability. The small casters rotate 360 degrees and are responsible for the chair’s ability to change direction. All the wheels can spin independently of the others.