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Tips and advice on mobility scooters
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The use of mobility scooters
among the aging population has grown rapidly over the last few years. Recent news coverage has highlighted issues with safety for both the users and pedestrians and road users. Current legislation does not require scooter owners to hold any insurance to cover either damage to the scooter or to a third party. Nor does the scooter itself have to undertake any safety checks to ensure it is in good working order. However saying that, mobility scooters offer an excellent means of transport for the elderly, allowing then to gain greater independence and the ability to enjoy the freedom of outdoor travel.
Using a mobility scooter is fairly simple. Mobility Scooters are operated using a lever pulling towards the handle bars to move forward and pushing away to reverse. This controls both the reverse and forward movement. To stop the level is released and the scooter will come to a standstill immediately. Most modern scooters can come equipped with lights, both front and rear, horn, basket and speed adjustment control. The speed adjustment control is an important feature which allows the user to adjust the speed of the mobility scooter. This control will set the top speed of the scooter and can be used for example when in shopping centres to ensure the scooter is used in a slow and controlled way.
Mobility scooters are available in two main classes. Class 2 mobility scooters are only for pavement use, with a maximum speed of 4 mph. Class one scooters have a maximum speed to 8mph and can also be used on roads. If these mobility scooters are used on the pavement they must only travel at 4 mph.
Mobility scooters are usually battery powered. The battery is stored on board the scooter and is charged via an onboard or separate battery charger unit from standard electric power. The charting time will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but allowing your scooter to fully recharge after use will prolong the life of the battery. This will also allow the user to gain maximum distance coverage from the scooter. Depending on the type of scooter the owned the maximum distance which can be covered will vary, but some scooters have a range of up to 20 miles on one charge.
Mobility scooters come in two main forms. These being transportable and non-transportable. The transportable scooters are specifically designed to be dismantled and fit into the boot of a car. Such scooters normal have three wheels and a light weight. Standard scooters usually have four wheels and and heavier than portable scooters.
Guide to Mobility Scooters
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A mobility scooter can be of great benefit to anyone who suffers from arthritis or circulation problems as well as other medical complaints. Mobility scooters are very easy to use, and shouldn’t be daunting. Despite all the various models and types to choose from, they all work in similar ways. The main differences are the number of wheels (three or four), the maximum speed, and the size of the disabled scooter.
Three wheel electric scooters are ideal for using indoors, especially in the home or in a shop, as they have a smaller turning circle than the equivalent four wheel model, which makes them easy to manoeuvre. Four wheel disabled scooters were previously perceived to be more stable but, due to technological advances, there is very little difference in stability between three and four wheel scooters these days. Most mobility scooter manufacturers offer three and four wheel versions of the same model.
What the disabled scooter is going to be used for, and how often it is going to be used, will help to determine which model will be best. For example, somebody purchasing a mobility scooter which will be used daily to replace a car has different needs to someone purchasing a mobility scooter that will be carried in the car and used primarily at weekends for travelling short distances.
Mobility scooter batteries are rechargeable and depending on the model of scooter, and will allow the mobility scooter to travel in excess of 30 miles. The smaller boot scooters have a range of around 10-15 miles depending on the model. The batteries can sometimes be upgraded to provide better performance, or an additional battery pack can be carried on the scooter to effectively double the range of the electric scooter.
Mobility scooters normally require a key to start them and are immobile without the key. This allows the electric scooter can be left outside a shop or house safely and securely, and prevents unauthorised use. Disabled scooters have a freewheel mode, which allows the scooter to be moved, without the scooter being turned on. This makes storing and transporting your electric scooter easier, and can assist when the batteries are charging and it needs moving.
Disabled scooters are steered using the tiller which is similar to a bicycle or motorbike handlebar. The tiller is usually adjustable, depending on the model, and can often be dropped down for transportation. Mobility scooters are driven using the thumb or fingers pushing or pulling a lever. This control is called a “wig wag” and works on the “see saw” principle. If the forward lever is pushed, it is the same as pulling on the reverse lever, and vice versa. Some models are driven by pushing the lever with the thumb, whilst others are driven by pulling the lever with the fingers, like a bicycle brake. A Delta handlebar means that both forward and reverse can be controlled using the same hand. This is fitted as standard on some disabled scooter models and available as an optional extra on others.
The speed of the mobility scooter is determined by the amount of pressure put on the forward / reverse lever. The overall speed of the disabled scooter is governed by the speed dial on the control panel. When getting used to the electric scooter, it may be better to use a lower speed setting. On the road legal mobility scooters, there is usually a switch which lowers the maximum speed from 8mph to 4mph, which then allows the scooter to be used legally on a pavement.
In order to slow down, the user just needs to release the forward or reverse lever which then brings the mobility scooter to a stop. Disabled scooters have regenerative brakes fitted, which mean that the scooter can be left on a slope with out fear of it rolling away. An emergency bicycle style brake is fitted to some models for additional safety and security.
Class 3, 8mph mobility scooters are road legal, and so can travel on the highway. By law, these have to be fitted with full lights and indicators. This type of electric scooter is larger and more luxurious than those designed to be dismantled and transported in a car boot. These disabled scooters are often purchased to replace a car, and so are much more powerful, and more rugged than a boot scooter. These disabled scooters usually have an adjustable and removable seat. The more luxurious seats recline and slide and some even have a headrest, like a car seat. Depending on the model of electric scooter, the seat may be upgraded to a larger, more comfortable more supportive seat.
Boot scooters are very popular and are designed to be transported, and can be taken apart in a matter of seconds. The seat and battery pack are easy to remove, and sometimes the scooter chassis will separate into two parts. Depending on the model of mobility scooter, the components may have handles incorporated into them to make putting them into a car boot even easier. Some models of small disabled scooter separate without the need to disconnect plugs or cables which makes transporting the electric scooter even easier.
These smaller mobility scooters, or boot scooters, are usually less luxurious than the larger electric scooters, and often do not have the same sort of features such as pneumatic tyres, full suspension or a highly adjustable seat. The maximum range that the scooter can travel is usually less, as is the weight capacity. Small mobility scooters
Another option is the pavement mobility scooter, which is a compromise between the boot scooter and the road legal scooter. These models of disabled scooter usually have some of the features of the larger scooters, such as lights and indicators, suspension, and a comfier seat than a boot scooter, but can usually still be dismantled for transportation. Some models have a top speed of 6mph, rather than the usual boot scooter top speed of 4mph.
A mobility scooter can bring back, or help to maintain independence, and allow long and short journeys to be enjoyed in both comfort and style.
Tags: technological advances, benefit, wheel, wheels, models, distances, arthritis, circulation problems, battery pack, electric scooter, maximum speed, mobility scooters
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_96661_17.html
A Guide to Mobility Beds
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On average, a person will spend approximately a third of their life in bed, so using a quality bed and mattress is important. Adjustable mobility beds can provide much more support and comfort than a traditional bed and can make a big difference to the quality of sleep, and so the quality of life.
A Mobility bed can be beneficial for those with medical conditions such as arthritis, asthma, Emphysema, Bronchitis, Rheumatism, MS, Circulation Problems, Back Pain and other conditions. The human spine is naturally curved, and so traditional beds and mattresses are not able to fully support the spine properly which is why people toss and turn in bed at night. Adjustable mobility beds are recommended by healthcare experts and Occupational Therapists.
Mobility beds are electrically operated using a handset and are designed to raise the ends and the middle of the bed. By raising the relevant part of the bed, the ideal comfortable position for the user can easily be found. Raising the head end of the bed can provide additional support and comfort during the day. Adjusting the middle and foot end of the bed to the medically recommended positions can provide help with pain and pressure relief both when awake and sleeping.
Modern mobility beds are designed to look like traditional beds, and in most cases look virtually identical to a traditional divan bed so they won’t look out of place in any bedroom, and don’t look like hospital style beds. Nowadays adjustable mobility beds have a built in battery back up system so that in the event of a power cut the bed can still be used, and the user won’t be stranded in an uncomfortable or painful position.
Mobility beds consist of more than just the adjustable base of the bed. The mattress plays a very important role in providing comfort and pressure relief. There are three main types of mattress technology used in conjunction with mobility beds, Pocket Sprung, Reflex Foam and Memory Foam.
A Pocket Sprung mattress is made from thousands of springs which are in their own individual pockets, and linked together to form a honeycomb pattern. The springs are able to move around independently, and so can adjust to the shape and weight of the body.
A Reflex Foam mattress is made from individual comfort cells which are cut into an egg box effect. This allows the cells to work independently and be supple and pliable. Reflex Foam mattresses offer a great deal of ventilation and so are ideal for using with mobility beds.
A Memory Foam mattress is heavier and more supportive than other types of mattress, and responds to changes in heat. Once warm, the foam is more pliable, and when cool again, it “remembers” the body shape and can spread the weight and pressure of the body. Memory foam is also used for mattress toppers and wheelchair cushions and in other situations where there is a risk of pressure sores. Memory Foam was originally developed by NASA for astronauts, but it was its use in hospitals that the pressure relieving properties were first noticed.
Adjustable mobility beds can make a big difference to those who spend a lot of time in bed, and can provide significant health benefits.
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_96668_17.html
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