Invacare MVPS Owners Manual - Page 16

GENERAL GUIDELINES SECTION 1 GENERAL GUIDELINES STAIRWAYS WARNING EXTREME CAUTION is advised when it is necessary to move an occupied wheelchair up or down the stairs. Invacare recommends that, if possible, the occupant be removed from the wheelchair prior to moving. The manufacturer recommends using two (2) assistants and making thorough preparations. Make sure to use ONLY secure, non-detachable parts for hand-held supports. DO NOT attempt to lift or tilt a wheelchair by using any removable (detachable) parts. Lifting by means of any removable (detachable) parts of a wheelchair may result in injury to the user or damage to the wheelchair. ALWAYS wear your seat positioning strap. Inasmuch as the SEAT POSITIONING STRAP is an option on this wheelchair (You may order with or without the seat positioning strap), Invacare strongly recommends ordering the seat positioning strap as an additional safeguard for the wheelchair user. Follow this procedure for moving the wheelchair between floors when an elevator is NOT available: 1. If so equipped, rotate the anti-tippers so the wheels are facing up. 2. After the wheelchair has been tilted back to the balance point, one assistant (in the rear) backs the wheelchair up against the first step, while securely grasping a nonremovable (non-detachable) part of the wheelchair for leverage. 3. The second assistant, with a firm hold on a non-detachable part of the framework, lifts the wheelchair up and over the stair and steadies the wheelchair as the first assistant places one (1) foot on the next stair and repeats STEP 2. 4. The wheelchair should not be lowered until the last stair has been negotiated and the wheelchair has been rolled away from the stairway. 5. If so equipped, rotate the anti-tippers so the wheels are facing down. ESCALATORS? SORRY! DO NOT use an escalator to move a wheelchair between floors. Serious bodily injury may occur. MVP™ & MVP jr.™ 16 Part No. 1106638