Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Tips For Handling A Rolling Walker Safely

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.

If you wear hearing aids or glasses, you should have them on when you are using your walker. Stepping into a room or hallway might be dangerous if someone doesn't see you coming. It isn't a good idea to get in a hurry and try to rush across a street or down an aisle. You don't want to walk too closely behind someone else either.

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.

The seats on walkers are not meant to be used while the equipment is in motion. They are conveniences for the users. Walkers should not be used in the place of ladders. Using the equipment in ways not intended by the manufacturers can cause injury if it topples over or breaks. Putting too many packages or grocery bags in the seat can unbalance it and make it tip.

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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