Transportation - Sunrise Medical SOPUR Helium Notice D'utilisation

9.0 Transportation

DANGER!
There is a risk of serious injury or death if this advice is ignored!
Transportation of your wheelchair within a vehicle:
A wheelchair secured in a vehicle will not provide the equivalent
level of safety and security as a vehicle seating system. We
recommend that the user transfers to the vehicle seating. It is
recognised that this is not always practical for the user to be
transferred and in these circumstances where the user must be
transported whilst in the wheelchair the following advice should
be followed:
DANGER!
• Confirm that your chair is crashtest suitable (see nameplate
or crashtest bracket at the rear of the chair (Fig. I)
• Confirm that the vehicle is suitably equipped to transport a
passenger in a wheelchair, and ensure the method of
access/egress is suitable for your wheelchair type. The
vehicle should have the floor strength to take the combined
weight of the user, the wheelchair and accessories.
• Sufficient space should be available around the wheelchair
to enable clear access to attach, tighten and release the
wheelchair and occupant tie down restraints and safety
belts.
• The occupied wheelchair must be located in a forward
facing position and secured by the wheelchair tie down and
occupant restraint straps (WTORS tie downs meeting the
requirements of ISO 10542 Part 2 or SAE J2249) in
accordance with the WTORS manufacturer's instructions.
• The wheelchair's use in other positions within a vehicle has
not been tested e.g. transportation in a side facing position
must not be carried out under any circumstances (Fig. A).
• The wheelchair should be secured by a Tie Down Restraint
system, conforming to ISO 10542 or SAE J2249 with non-
adjustable front straps and adjustable rear straps, which
typically use Karabiner clips/S hooks and tongue and
buckle fittings. These restraints generally comprise of 4
individual straps that are attached to each corner of the
wheelchair.
Helium Rev.I
• The tie-down restraints should be fitted to the main frame of
the wheelchair as indicated in the diagram on the following
page, and not to any attachments or accessories, e.g. not
around the spokes of wheels, brakes or footrests.
• The tie–down restraints should be attached as close as
possible at an angle of 45 degrees and tightened securely in
accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
• Alterations or substitutions must not be made to the wheelchair
tie down points or to structural and frame or components
without consulting the manufacturer. Failure to do so will
invalidate the ability of a Sunrise Medical wheelchair to be
transported within a vehicle.
• Both pelvic and upper torso restraint belts must be used to
restrain the occupant to reduce the possibility of head and
chest impacts with the vehicle components and serious risk of
injury to the user and other vehicle occupants. (Fig. B) The
upper torso restraint belt should be mounted to the vehicle "B"
pillar - failure to do so will increase the risk of serious
abdominal injuries to the user.
• A head restraint suitable for transportation (see label on
headrest) must be fitted and suitably positioned at all times
during transportation.
• Postural supports (lap straps, lap belts) should not be used or
relied on for occupant restraint in a moving vehicle unless they
are labelled as meeting the requirements specified in ISO
7176-19:2001 or SAE J2249.
• The safety of the user during transportation depends upon the
diligence of the person securing the tie-down restraints and
they should have received appropriate instructions and/or
training in their use.
• Wherever possible remove and stow safely away from the
wheelchair all auxiliary equipment, for example:
• Crutches, Loose cushions and Tray Tables.
• Articulating/elevating legrest should not be used in the elevated
position when the wheelchair and user are being transported
and the wheelchair is restrained using Wheelchair Transport
and Occupant Restraints.
• Reclining backrests should be returned to an upright position.
• The manual brakes must be firmly applied.
• Restraints should be mounted to the vehicle "B" pillar and
should not be held away from the body by wheelchair
components such as armrest or wheels.
Fig. A Fig. B
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