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Frame
The wheelchair frame is the metal scaffold
that supports the weight of the patient. The
frame is a unique part of the wheelchair
because it is extremely strong and has no
moving parts.
These two features are very important to an
MAV transport since they make the frame an
ideal point to attach tie down straps and
secure the wheelchair inside the MAV. The
lack of moving parts means the straps will
not lose tightness during the transport. The
frame’s strong construction also means that
should there be a motor vehicle collision, the
chair (and thus the patient) is more likely to
stay attached to the floor and not be tossed
inside the vehicle. Never attach wheelchair
tie downs to any part of the chair but the
frame.
Hand Grips
Hand grips are the main areas an MAVO will
use to maneuver a wheelchair. Some of
these maneuvers will involve an MAVO
pulling on these grips with great force.
In older or poorly maintained wheelchairs,
the wheelchair grips may be loose and may
come off suddenly. This could potentially
cause the chair to fall and the patient to
become injured. Always test the hand grips
before attempting to maneuver a chair for
the first time.
Institutional Features
Some options that a healthcare organization
might purchase for a chair that is used in a
facility include chart holders, IV poles,
oxygen bottle holders, and reclining backs.
Most of these features will create very little
functional difference during the transport.
As an MAVO, you should simply be familiar
with them so that you are not confused by
their purpose the first time you transport a
patient in such a chair.
Seatbelts
Most patient wheelchairs will not have
seatbelts, or will have a light strap system
such a Velcro
strap. An MAV transport
however, is much more likely to create a fall.
The patient is not in control of the chair, he
or she will be elevated on a lift, and the
wheelchair will be secured in a moving
vehicle. Because of these factors, a patient
must be secured in the chair with an
automotive-type seat belt whenever he or
she is attended by an MAVO.
To insure compliance with this standard, an
MAVO will often need to carry a portable
seatbelt called a
9’ Strap
that can be used to
secure a patient in his/her own wheelchair
for the transport to the MAV. In the vehicle,
the patient will be further secured for the trip.