MAO Manual

Cam Buckle Strap With a cam buckle strap, the MAVO just has to pull the webbing tight. The mechanism itself should grab the strap with its teeth to stabilize the tie-down. Cam buckle straps should only be used to restrain the front of the wheelchair, never the back.

Proper Securement of Wheelchair in Van A patient who is appropriately secured in the MAV will be in a chair that is firmly tied down to the MAV floor with four restraint straps that are secured to the frame of the wheelchair. The chair will not be able to be moved more than 1” in any direction. The patient will be forward-facing in the van, and will be secured in the chair with a separate restraint system. Although the Office of Emergency Medical Services accepts a single seatbelt in the current NJAC 8:40 regulations, the most current thinking is that the paitent should be in an ADA three point restraint. Other organizations also require a shoulder harness to restrain the patient. The current Logisticare standards require a shoulder harness, so if you organization does any Medicaid-billable work, you must use an ADA three point restraint. A standard for Transporting Wheelchairs, the WC-19 standards, also require a three point restraint on the patient. Thus, it’s recommended that you always utilize a three point restraint when transporting a patient.

Cam Buckle Strap

An MAVO should carry at least one wheelchair for those patients either without their own chair or without a wheelchair that can be safely secured for transport. This wheelchair should be in four-point tie-downs (even if there is no a patient in it) or an approved wheelchair storage rack at all times. Remember, everything inside the van should be “crashworthy” to ensure the safety of all passengers in the van at all times. “Crashworthy” means that the wheelchair, patient belongings, equipment or devices of any kind – everything inside the vehicle – is secured and will not become a projectile in the event of an accident. Seat Belts Other important items in your MAV are the seatbelts that are used to secure passengers in vehicle seats and in wheelchairs. Wheelchair seatbelts are used so that the patient does not slip down or fall out of the chair when stationary or when in motion on the ground. Remember that anytime you are attending to a patient in a wheelchair, they must be seatbelted into the chair. Automotive seatbelts or safety belts in MAV’s are used for the same purpose as they are in your car: to keep the driver and passengers secured while the vehicle is in motion and in the event of a crash.

Properly Secured Patient in MAV