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Step Stools
Some patients can walk, but are either too
weak or unsteady to take the larger steps
necessary to enter the MAV. In these
cases, an ambulatory assist stool may be
necessary to assist this patient with entering
the MAV.
Ambulatory Assist Stool
An appropriate ambulatory assist stool will
be solidly constructed from a strong
material, have a large surface area for the
patient to step on, and have a foot-base that
is wider than the stepping area to insure that
the stool remains steady when the patient
places his or her foot on it.
When using an ambulatory assist stool,
make sure you:
Position stool directly in front of
vehicle door
Stand downhill from the patient
Insure patient is stepping in the
middle of the stool, as opposed to the
sides
Do not use a step stool that does not meet
the above criteria. You should definitely not
use stools made of plastic that are meant for
home use by consumers. These products
are not meant for use by potentially
unsteady people who may have difficulty
with balance. A medical-grade product
meant for use by sick or elderly persons is a
better choice for an MAV application.
Having appropriate equipment, knowing how
to use it, and properly monitoring your
patient are the best ways to prevent an
injury and insure a safe transport.
All seatbelts – automotive and wheelchair –
must be positioned low on the patient’s
body, across the bones of the pelvic area
and not across the ribs or soft tissues such
as the stomach or waist.
Seat Belts
Your vehicle is equipped with safety belts on
both the driver’s seat and the passenger’s
seat. If your van has foldaway bench seats
in the patient compartment, they must also
be outfitted with safety belts. All passengers
in your vehicle must wear their safety belts
at all times.
Some companies attach a seatbelt to their
wheelchairs to secure the patient in the
wheelchair. At the start of your shift, you
should inspect seatbelts attached to the
wheelchair for wear-and-tear.
All seatbelts or safety belts utilized in your
vehicle should have metal buckles, as
opposed to plastic buckles or Velcro
fasteners. Regardless of the style of belt or
fastener, if a patient’s chair has its own non-
compliant belt, you must still use the 9-foot
strap to maximize safety so take it inside
with you when you are picking up a patient.
Box 4-1: Seat Belts
Anytime a patient in a wheelchair is
attended by an MAVO, the patient
should be securely seatbelted into the
chair. Since most patients will not
have automotive-type belts on ttheir
wheelchairs at home, the MAVO
should always keep a 9” automotive
seatbelt strap handy for transports.