Plenty of people use wheelchairs because of many reasons. For those who have difficulting moving around, wheelchairs can enhance their quality of life. This convenient and popular device is meant to grant its users with the comfort, liberty and the capacity to get around and enjoy life to its maximum extent.
Being in a wheelchair shouldn't be a hindrance. Whether you are in the chair or the one behind it, should you stick to a couple of our simple but amazingly effective methods and shortcuts for travelling with a wheelchair, then flying to your dream destination should be a breeze.
1. Check the wheelchair
Before leaving home, you should check if the wheelchair is in great condition. Check if all the moving parts are in working order, and if needed, have them mended. Have the wheelchair inspected and serviced by a licensed wheelchair repair specialist if you are not capable of doing so yourself. This simple act can save you the trouble of dealing with a technical problem far away from home.
2. Take photos of the wheelchair
Everybody takes photos while on a holiday, but you should take photos of your wheelchair as well as its accessories even before boarding the aeroplane.
Be sure you use a camera that has a time and date function so you might confirm and show proof of the state of your wheelchair before it's checked in. Doing this could save you hours of arguing with a customer service agent if the worst happens to your wheelchair.
3. Label the parts
Write your name, contact details, flight number and other relevant details on a bit of tape and stick it on your wheelchair and all other removable parts and accessories before leaving for the airport.
Your wheelchair might get mixed up with additional bag and diverted to a different flight. In this manner, you make it easier for airport police to identify and return your wheelchair to you personally. Don't write superfluous information that is not required to identify you.
4. Prepare a repair kit
Bring with you a repair kit in case your wheelchair is the kind with pneumatic tires. The repair kit should be small enough to not take up too much space in your bag but have all the tools and items necessary for tightening a bolt or changing a flat tire. Bicycle stores should have prepared kits that you can bring together.
5. Use inflatable cushions
Air wheelchair cushions are able to make your holiday infinitely more comfortable. Sitting on a comfortable people can make the long hours waiting in line bearable.
6. Expand your storage
Expand your storage capacities and attach a secure, small backpack into the rear of the seat. You can put in there the portable repair kit, some cash, copies of your travel documents, even a jar of water to get easy refreshment. Just be sure not to overstuff it or the weight might tip the wheelchair backwards.
7. Avoid tipping
Install anti-tip pubs or anti-tippers if you want to secure the front wheels all of the time while maintaining the back stable.
8. Be on the lookout
Keep a lookout for broken shards of glass or sharp pieces of stone while moving a wheelchair. A punctured tire far away from your hotel will probably leave you stranded with no help.
Martin Wynn
