Did you know that more than 2.7 million Canadians 15 years of age or older have compromised mobility? That’s 9.6% of the population! For some, it was due to a sports injury or an illness while for others, a result of natural causes such as old age or an underlying health condition.
Regardless of the cause, one thing that has been helpful to such individuals is the stairlift. A stairlift is simply an automated tool that allows the mobile-impaired to go up and down a flight of steps in their home without risk or danger.
It makes life both easier and safer for people who are immobilized. But such a device must be used correctly in order for it to provide maximum safety to those who need it most.
Here are 5 tips for using the stairlift in your home safely and securely.
1. Keep Stairs Clean and Unobstructed
Truthfully, this is a golden rule when it comes to general safety for everyone – all it takes is a single toy or a garment of clothing to cause a slip, and as a result, injury. But this notion becomes even more pronounced when a stairlift is involved.
Obstructions such as ripped carpet, unfastened boards, miscellaneous items, etc, can easily block the way of your stairlift. This could result in the stairlift becoming damaged and you getting stuck halfway up the staircase.
With this in mind, do all you can to ensure your stairs are clean and clear.
2. Strap on the Seatbelt
Safety first! Even though stairlifts saunter up and down the stairs at a reasonable and cautious pace, it’s still prudent of you to strap in. The reason being is that seat belts can stop falls from occurring. Such incidents can prove to be quite serious, especially at elevated heights.
3. Regular Upkeep
Want your stairlift to remain fully functional? Then it’s highly advised that you consistently keep up with orderly maintenance. If the stairlift ceases to work, acts irregularly, or displays indicators of depreciation, then consider calling in an expert.
Don’t try to fix it yourself. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can easily make things worse.
4. Use it Appropriately
It’s probably not a good idea to carry any heavy items with you when using the stairlift. Additionally, only a single person at a time should be using it. You can easily abuse your stairlift by demanding a plethora of tasks from it that it was not designed to perform.
In order to keep it functioning properly so you can continue reaping its benefits, you need to take care of it. Treat it right and it will do the same to you in return.
5. Ensure You Fold up the Seat
The seat of a stairlift can be folded up when not being used. This helps keep the area clear as a folded down seat can take up unnecessary space for others. Additionally, the seat can act as a tripping hazard if not paid attention to.
For this reason, ensure that after each use, the seat is properly folded as a common courtesy to those you live with or any house guests that may be visiting.
6. Don’t Let Kids Play With it
For youngsters, it can be very easy (and tempting) to view this tool as a toy. Consequently, explain to your children that this is not something to be played with and that it serves the important purpose of helping you get around the house. Be clear and firm.
The last thing you want is your child to unintentionally break your stairlift because they didn’t know better – or worse – get hurt or injured on it.
7. Keep Your Stairlift Charged
After each use – whether you’re on the top or bottom floor – make certain that you keep it charged (this applies to the remote batteries as well). By doing so, you can avoid the scenario of your stairlift running out of juice while traversing your staircase. That can definitely throw a wrench in your day if no one is present to help you out.
Key Takeaways
With the proper precautions, the stairlift can be of tremendous benefit to you. All it takes is a little prudence, forethought, and common sense to make this a great asset in your home. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, contact us today.
We’re excited to hear from you.