Saturday 3 June 2017

Simple Ways To Safely Handle A Rolling Walker

By Michelle Olson


People don't usually think of walkers as being dangerous or a hazard. Most of the individuals who use them are senior citizens or those recovering from surgery. It surprises many that this equipment is routinely responsible for concussions, broken bones, and crashes. It's good to be careful around people who are using this equipment, but the operator has some responsibility when it comes to using a rolling walker safely.

Walkers have to be at the proper height for the individuals using them. The top should not be any lower than your wrists when they are by your sides. Walking beside the equipment is not correct procedure. You should be behind it when it is moving. Standing straight and looking forward is the best way to improve your posture and keep you aware of what is ahead of you.

People using walkers have to pay attention to where they are going. Walking with a piece of equipment in front of you can be hazardous. If you are inside, you need to check the room you are entering for area rugs, doorway plates, and small pets. Outside, sidewalks may have cracks and holes that could make you lose your balance. You need to learn the proper way to step off of curbs, as well, so you don't become unbalanced and fall.

People who wear glasses and hearing aids need to use them with walkers. When you enter or leave a room, be sure to look both ways so you don't accidentally run into someone with your walker. It could cause serious injury. If you are in line, you need to keep a healthy distance between you and the person in front of you. Getting in a hurry could cause you to fall, even with the walker.

If walkers are not in good working order, they can be dangerous. You should inspect the wheels for any trash or debris you might have picked up. The rubber tips on leg bottoms need to be secure and unworn. If the seat tips back and forth, it should be screwed tighter.

Walkers with seats are for the convenience of the users. They allow a person to sit and rest for a few minutes if necessary. Walkers are not wheelchairs however. They were not made to be pushed while someone sits in the seat. It could tip over or break from too much weight. Overloading it with grocery bags or other packages can also make it vulnerable to tipping.

Common courtesy dictates some situations that concern people with walkers. Leaving them in aisles in movie theaters can be dangerous and violate fire codes. When you are seated at a restaurant, the waiter will probably be happy to take your walker to an area out of the way of other guests.

Walkers are great alternatives to wheelchairs for those with mobility or balance issues. They give a sense of independence to the user. This can improve an individual's attitude toward a disability and reduce anxiety and depression.




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