An electric wheelchair is a costly purchase, but it will keep you mobile and active. Maintaining your power wheelchair is important, not only because of its cost, but in order to avoid dangerous situations that could arise if the chair were to break down while in use. Bring your wheelchair into your service provider regularly to ensure proper functioning; meanwhile, there are a few things you can do to make sure it stays in tip-top shape between repairs.
Instructions
1. Keep your wheelchair clean. Have antiseptic wipes handy for any spills or other types of debris that might wear away at the chair. At the beginning or end of each day, wipe down the chair with some antiseptic wipes, or you can use a damp cloth and a mild detergent. This will not only protect the chair, but it will protect you from germs and disease as well. Use a toothpick or another sharp object to keep the axle or caster bearing clean.
2. Make a tool kit to keep with your wheelchair at all times. This tool kit should include the following: a Phillips and flat-head screwdriver, an Allen wrench set, a crescent wrench, a spoke wrench and a tire repair kit. You never know where you'll be when you need a quick tightening of the wheel, so it's always important to keep a kit with you, just like you would if you were driving an automobile.
3. Keep your ears open. You will know the sound of your electric wheelchair's motor better than anyone else. If something sounds weird, do not hesitate to call to have it serviced. In the long run it is less expensive to fix those problems when they first begin than to have to do major repair after ignoring them.
4. Keep your battery charged. The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services recommends that you plug in your wheelchair whenever the battery life falls below half charged, and that you never let the battery completely drain. This will ruin the battery and will require you to replace it sooner than usual.
5. Never let any water or liquids come into contact with the electric parts of your wheelchair. Avoid using your chair outdoors when it is raining, but if you must use it, wrap a clear plastic bag over the power control to prevent as much contact with the rain as possible.
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