Information for the Safe
Use of Adaptive Equipment
The Congregational Nurse Project of Northwest Ohio in collaboration
with Cassie Basting, P.T. and the Pediatric Rehabilitation and
Development Services of Toledo Children's Hospital has developed this
information for the use and safety checks on adaptive equipment. This
information is helpful to faith communities that maintain lending
closets for equipment.
Using a Walker
(Standard and Wheeled)
1. Advance Walker and involved leg forward.
2. Putting weight on hands, move uninvolved leg forward.
3. Your body should not touch the walker when you move forward.
Adjusting a Walker
1. With arms hanging at side, walker hand grips should be at
wrist level.
Safety Checks for a Walker
1. Rubber leg tips are in good repair.
2. All screws are securely tightened.
3. Adjustable pins function.
4. If collapsible, locks function.
5. If wheeled, wheels are firmly attached.
Using a Cane
1. Place cane in hand on uninvolved side.
2. Advance cane and involved leg.
3. Putting weight on cane, advance uninvolved leg.
Adjusting a Cane
1. With arms hanging at side, top of cane should be at wrist
level.
Safety Checks for a Cane
1. Rubber leg tips are in good repair.
2. All screws are securely tightened.
3. Adjustable pins function.
Using Crutches
1. Advance both crutches.
2. Move involved leg forward.
3. Putting weight on hands (not underarms) swing involved leg
forward.
Adjusting Crutches
1. Place crutches under arms with arms hanging at side.
2. Hand grip height should be wrist level.
3. Height of crutch should be 1-1 1/2 inches under axilla
Safety Checks for Crutches
1. Rubber leg tips, hand grips, and arm pads should be in good
repair.
2. All screws should be securely tightened.
3. Adjustable pins functioning.
Using Manual Wheelchair
1. When sitting (be sure both wheels are locked) back up to the
chair until your knees touch the seat.
2. Reach your hand out toward the seat to guide yourself when
sitting.
3. When seated, scoot body back into the chair.
4. Unlock both wheels to propel.
5. Go forward facing up ramps or curbs.
6. Go backward facing down ramps or curbs.
7. When standing. (be sure both wheels are locked).
8. Slide out to the edge of the chair.
9. Lean forward and using arms, push to standing
.Safety Checks for Manual Wheelchair
1. Brakes function.
2. Tires are pumped up.
3. Arms and leg rests function.
4. If collapsible, chair is latched in the open position.
5. If seat belt, check function and attachments.
Using a Bedside Commode/Raised Toilet Seat
1. Back up until your knees touch the commode
2. Reach hand out toward the seat to guide yourself when
sitting.
3. Scoot back until you are completely seated.
4. When standing, scoot forward onto edge of seat.
5. Lean forward and use arms to push to standing.
6. To clean, clean bucket after each use.
Using Bath Chair or Bench
1. Back up until knees touch bath chair.
2. Sit on chair/bench, scoot all the way back onto the
chair/bench.
3. Lift one leg at at time into the bathtub.
4. When exiting bathtub, do the reverse
.Safety Checks for Bedside Commode
1. Rubber leg tips are in good repair.
2. All screws are securely tightened.
3. Seat is firmly attached.
4. Bucket and seat are not cracked.
5. Adjustable pins function.
Safety Checks for Bath Chair/Bench
1. Rubber leg tips are in good repair.
2. All screws are securely tightened.
3. Chair/bench is firmly placed in tub.
4. Seat is not cracked.
5. Arm rests firmly attached.
6. Adjustable pins function.
Safety Checks for Raised Toilet Seat
1. Seat is firmly attached to commode.
2. All screws are securely tightened.
3. Seat is not cracked.
