Freedom Designs Freedom NXT - Manual (Page 8)

Freedom Designs, Inc. Freedom Designs, Inc.
6
NXT
Generation NEXT
TM
W W
A A
R R
N
N
II
N N
G G
!
!
Dressing or Changing Clothes
Your weight may shift if you dress or change clothes while seated in this chair.
To reduce the risk of a fall or tip-over:
Rotate the front casters until they are as far forward as possible. This makes
the chair more stable.
Lock wheel locks into place.
Wheelies
“Wheelies”, (tilting the wheelchair backward to its balance point), are extremely
dangerous as the chair may tip over. Freedom Designs, Inc. recommends that
“wheelies” not be attempted.
Obstacles
Obstacles and road hazards (such as potholes and broken pavement), can
damage your chair and may cause a fall, tip-over, or loss of control.
To avoid these risks:
Keep a lookout for danger—scan the area well ahead of your chair as you ride.
Make sure the floor area where you live and work are level and free of
obstacles.
Remove or cover threshold strips between rooms.
Install a ramp at entry or exit doors. Make sure there is not a drop off at the
bottom of the ramp.
To help correct your center of balance:
a. Lean your upper body FORWARD slightly as you go UP over an obstacle.
b. Press your upper body BACKWARD as you go DOWN from a higher to a
lower level.
Keep both of your hands on the handrims as you go over an obstacle.
Never push or pull on an object, (such as furniture or a doorjamb), to propel
your chair.
Reaching or Leaning
If you reach or lean, it will affect the center of balance of your chair. This may
cause you to fall or tip over. When in doubt, ask for help or use a device to
extend your reach.
1. NEVER reach or lean if you must shift your weight sideways or rise up off
the
seat.
2. NEVER reach or lean if you must move forward in your seat to do so. Always
keep your buttocks in contact with the backrest.
3. NEVER reach with both hands, you may not be able to catch yourself to
prevent a fall if the chair tips.
4. DO NOT reach or lean over the top of the seat back. This may damage
one or both backrest tubes and cause you to fall.
5. If you must reach or lean:
a. Do not lock the Drive wheels. This creates a tip point and makes a
fall or tip-over more likely.
b. Do not put pressure on the footrests.
Note: Leaning forward puts pressure on the footrests and may cause the
chair to tip if you lean too far.
Warning:
Falls & Tip Overs
! !
If you fail to heed these warnings, damage to your chair, a fall, tip-over, or
loss of control may occur and cause severe injury to the rider or others.