Wheelchair Fall Prevention
First thing you do to your wheelchair before you stand up.
What is put your brakes on?
OT Tracy may recommend you put these on the walls of your shower or tub to decrease your fall risk
What are handrails or grab bars?
Have these on your feet before you walk if you are not wearing shoes.
What are grippy socks?
What you should use when walking if PT Abby tells you to do so.
What is an assistive device such as a cane, walker, or rollator?
PT Abby says your walker should be this close to you before standing.
What is an arm's length/reach away?
Put your hands on these and push up when standing from a chair or wheelchair.
What are armrests?
OT Tracy may recommend that you sit on this to bathe/shower so you do not have to stand in the shower.
What is a shower chair or tub transfer bench?
Mop it up!
What do you do when you spill something?
Do this if you need something in a high place that is beyond your REACH.
What is use your reacher or ask someone to get it for you?
PT Abby does not recommend that you try to hold items in your hand when using your walker; she suggests using this instead.
What is using a walker bag/tray/basket?
Accessories that can be added to a wheelchair to keep it from tipping over backwards
What are anti-tippers?
OT Tracy may recommend you put this on the bottom of your tub to keep from slipping in the tub.
What is a non-slip bathmat or friction strips?
Do this to loose rugs/mats so you do not trip over them.
What is remove them or tape them down with double sided tape?
If you feel weak or dizzy when you are walking, you should do this as soon as possible.
What is sit down?
PT Abby may remind you to keep this close to you when walking and to walk inside it.
What is your walker or rollator?
Item placed under w/c cushion to prevent sliding forwards
shelf liner or dycem
OT Tracy says, "put this on the floor on the outside of the tub to catch any water that may have escaped the shower."
What is a large non-slip bath mat/rug?
Do this to retrieve items that have fallen on the floor that you cannot REACH.
What is use your reacher/grabber or ask someone to pick it up?
Ìf you can't sit down when you are dizzy or weak, these are two other things you can do.
What are hold on to something sturdy close to you and/or call for help?
PT Abby encourages you to keep your hands on these when walking with your walker, not on the front bar of the walker.
What are the handles of the walker?
The parts of the wheelchair you should either swing away or remove them out of your way before you stand up
What are the foot rests?
OT Tracy does not want the water hitting your face when you are showering! Use this device when seated on a shower chair or tub transfer bench.
What is a handheld showerhead?
You should NEVER stand on these when trying to reach objects up high.
What are chairs, beds, sofas?
If you have a history of this, it is best to wait a few seconds upon standing before you take the first step and hold onto stable surface.
What is getting dizzy when standing?
PT Abby makes sure you always remember to do this before sitting on the seat of your rollator (for a rest BREAK).
What is lock the brakes?