Today, we’ll review the wrong ways to use a stairlift so you’ll know what to avoid doing when using your own.
Getting up stairs can be a challenge for anyone who has limited mobility. One way to make stairs easier to traverse is with the help of a stairlift. When using stairlifts, though, it’s important that you use them correctly in order to maximize their efficiency and keep yourself safe. With that said, there are some improper ways to use stairlifts, and they can cause people to become injured or have the stairlift become damaged in some way. Today, we’ll review the wrong ways to use a stairlift so you’ll know what to avoid doing when using your own.
Not Using Your Seatbelt
Many injuries relating to stairlifts stem from people not wearing their seatbelts during use. While some people may believe they won’t need to use the seatbelt, you can never be entirely sure, and you want to have the protection of a seatbelt just in case something goes awry. It’s the same reason we wear seatbelts in the car, and while stairlifts are used for short periods of time, it isn’t a reason for being unsafe.
Not Using Your Stairlift As It’s Designed To Be Used
Fortunately, using a stairlift is not too complicated. Simply sit down, fasten your seatbelt, and let it take you to the top or bottom of your staircase. Some stairlifts come with footrests as well, and some people believe that they can stand on these footrests with their entire body weight. This is NOT what you should do, as it is not the way the stairlift is meant to be used. Proper distribution of weight is critical when using stairlifts, and if you apply too much weight to one area, it’s possible for your stairlift to break. It doesn’t help that standing on a moving mechanism above ground level is unsafe, so it’s best to just stay seated and wait until you can safely get off.
Not Performing Necessary Maintenance Procedures
All stairlifts need to be maintained properly to ensure they function as needed. You don’t want to be in a scenario in which your stairlift breaks down during use, leaving you stuck. By being proactive with maintenance, you can detect problems before they have a chance to impact your stairlift’s functionality. This keeps your stairlift in peak condition while keeping you safe.
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