Wheelchair Preparation

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Top Contributors - Vidya Acharya, Naomi O'Reilly, Laura Ritchie, Kim Jackson, Amrita Patro and Jess Bell  

Introduction

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For the whole wheelchair		How to check
There are no sharp edges		Check all over the wheelchair with eyes and hands
No parts are damaged or scratched.
The wheelchair travels in a straight line		Push the wheelchair away from you, making sure the castor wheels are in the “trail” position.
Front castor wheels
Spin freely.		Tip the wheelchair on to the back wheels. Spin the castor wheels.
Spin without touching the fork.
Bolts are tight.		Check. They should feel firm. Do not over tighten.
Front castor barrels
Castor fork spins freely.		Tip the wheelchair on to the back wheels. Spin the castor fork around.
Rear wheels
Spin freely.		Tip the wheelchair sideways on to one rear wheel. Spin the other wheel. Check the other side.
Axle bolts are tight.		Check. They should feel firm. Do not over tighten.
Tyres (if those are pneumatic) are inflated correctly.		Press on the tyres with your thumb. The wheel should depress a little, but no more than 5 mm.
Push rims are secure		Check
Brakes
Function properly		Apply brakes. Check the wheelchair cannot be moved.
Footrests
Footrests are securely attached.		Check.

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References