How to Assess a Safe Indoor Speed for Driving a Power Wheelchair
According to The National Institutes of Health, "On average, an estimated 36,000 wheelchair-related injuries serious enough to prompt a visit to an emergency department occur annually in the United States." Knowing how to assess a safe indoor speed for your power wheelchair is crucial for preventing injuries. Obstacles like rugs, carpeting and doorway thresholds can affect your ability to safely navigate through your home or office. Learning to how to choose a proper speed takes practice and a little patience.
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Instructions
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Your power wheelchair joystick has a speed control knob. Depending on the model of your chair, it will be either on top of the controller box or on the side. For indoor use, start with your speed control set left of center. If you think of the knob as a clock face, turn the knob to ten o'clock. This will limit how fast your chair can move.
Power wheelchair joysticks are sensitive to pressure. If you push the joystick as far forward as possible, your chair will move faster. A gentle touch is enough to get the chair to start rolling.
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To gauge your speed indoors at home, have a friend walk beside you. If you are moving faster than your friend, lessen the pressure on the speed control knob until you match your friend's pace.
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Finding a proper indoor speed when you are in a crowd is similar to driving on a crowded highway --- you want to be fast enough to keep up with traffic, but not so fast that you risk running into anyone. Using the speed control knob, turn the dial to the center. Remember that your speed is controlled both by the knob on the joystick box and by pressure on the joystick itself.
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Tips & Warnings
Once you have matched your friend's walking pace, put a mark above your joystick controller knob with nail polish or a magic marker. That way you can remember how to adjust your chair at a glance.
Pile carpeting will slow down your power wheelchair. You may have to boost your speed by turning the speed control knob to compensate.
To roll onto a rug, approach the rug at an angle to prevent your wheels from getting stuck under the rug. Roll onto the rug one front wheel at a time.
When you encounter a rug, or a door threshold, stop your chair for a moment. A change in floor surfaces can lead to accidents.
When transitioning, make sure your speed is lower to compensate for the change in flooring. You can do this by easing up pressure on the joystick and going forward slowly.
