A quick guide to using your wheelchair restraints and ensuring the wheelchair user is safely and properly secured in a vehicle before setting off.
1. Open rear and lower ramp
Ensure you have enough space to drop the ramp and allow your wheelchair room to enter. Open the rear door and then lower the bottom piece. This will allow the ramp to open freely. Take hold of the handle and gently lower the ramp to the floor.
Read more on this here: https://specialistvehiclerental.co.uk/how-to-use-your-wheelchair-ramp/
2. Attach rear lock restraints to floor
Your vehicle should have 2 rear restraints (often located in a pocket on your right hand side). Simply line these to the metal circle on the floor and slide them on until they click into place.
To remove these restraints, pull the handle up and slide out.
To extend the restraints when securing a wheelchair, press down the red button to allow free flow.
3. Load in wheelchair
Before getting your vehicle, provide our team with your required measurements and we will send a vehicle which fits. Some models may require you to tip the passenger seats forward for extra room.
Now push your wheelchair user into the vehicle, have them apply their breaks when inside as you hook the restraints on.
4. Attach front restraint hooks
On your left (near the winch remote) you will see a button with the label ‘wheelchair restraint switch’. Turn this button on to pull the front restraints and turn it off to lock them into place.
Pull the front restraints and hook them securely to the frame of the wheelchair.
Do this on the left and right sides of the wheelchair. Turn off the button now to lock the chair into place from the front.
5. Attach rear restraint hooks
While holding the red button down, pull the restraint and hook it on a secure part of the wheelchairs frame. Do this on both sides.
On the wheelchair restrain you will see a ratch which you can turn and tighten the restraints. This is to ensure a nice snug fit.
Tighten the restraints and ensure the wheelchair is firmly in place. You can adjust back and forth to ensure the wheelchair user has ample room for their journey.
6. Fasten seatbelt
Ensure the seatbelt is fastened both across the wheelchair user’s waist and across their chest and shoulder. This will ensure in the event of an accident, they are not thrown forward.
You can adjust the length of the seatbelt with the loop on the right side.
7. Overall checks
Once all steps have been completed, ensure the wheelchair user is happy with the room and adjustments. Ensure the restraints are hooked securely and tight.
You can push and pull the wheelchair a little bit to test.
8. Close and have a safe journey
Simply use the same handle on the ramp to close it as well as the bottom piece. You are then free to carry on your journey.
Securing a wheelchair into a wheelchair accessible vehicle can be difficult, especially for those who have not done it before. Do not hesitate to contact our team, should you have any questions.
Email: bookings@specialistvehiclerental.co.uk
Phone: 01922 624 967
