If you've ever pushed someone in a wheelchair, you know how tricky going down ramps can be. You have to really use your weight and hold on tight to make sure the wheelchair doesn't "get away from you." It is dangerous and stressful.
Here's a "No-Duh" solution that is just brilliant - put bicycle brakes on the wheelchair for the caregiver to use. The brake handles go up by the wheelchair handles so the "pusher" can easily control the speed of the wheelchair on any downhill incline.
This approach was invented by Veech Breakwell who just got frustrated trying to hold onto his friend's wheelchair on all those ramps. Fantastic. He even received an inventors' award for the design and expects to develop wheelchair break kits for under $100.
Here's a "No-Duh" solution that is just brilliant - put bicycle brakes on the wheelchair for the caregiver to use. The brake handles go up by the wheelchair handles so the "pusher" can easily control the speed of the wheelchair on any downhill incline.
This approach was invented by Veech Breakwell who just got frustrated trying to hold onto his friend's wheelchair on all those ramps. Fantastic. He even received an inventors' award for the design and expects to develop wheelchair break kits for under $100.
It’s safer if the caregiver faces the wheelchair and goes backwards; that is, the caregiver goes first. Otherwise the person in the wheelchair can still fall out.
That’s true(I am responding to the first comment). When I am in my chair going downhill, even on the smallest decline, I feel that I may slide out of my chair, and really need somebody in front of me.
Expanding on my first comment–it’s even better if the person in the wheelchair is going backwards as well. I’ve done this as a caregiver of a stroke victim; now that I have an MS diagnosis, I will certainly insist that my caregivers handle hills this way if I find myself in a wheelchair in the future. The caregiver must always position himself to be between the patient and the floor or ground.
PLEASE CHECK OUT
http://WWW.BRAKES4WHEELCHAIRS.COM
AND GIVE ME FEEDBACK — PLEASE
TOM C
I put bicycle brakes on my mother-in-law’s wheelchaie in 2003–
The local bike shop helped by finding me a right/left set for very little money–
I used scrap Al-bar stock I got cheap as well–
I will send photos if you wish–
Respond to– downhillbrakes@aol.com
Good Luck,
Tom C
I put Bicycle brakes on my mother-in-law’s chair in 2003–
The local bike shop found me a set of right/left brakes for very little money and I used scrap Al-bar stock to attach them.
I will provide photos if you need–
downhillbrakes@aol.com
I’ve been looking for chairs like this for my bro but couldn’t find one. Could you kindly send me the photos or give me instructions of how to attach one of these brakes to the chair?
I’ve been looking for chairs like this for my bro but couldn’t find one. Could you kindly send me the photos or give me instructions of how to attach one of these brakes to the chair?