A stair lift is a piece of home medical equipment that is designed to allow someone who is mobility challenged safely use the stairs. Typically a track is attached to the stairs and a chair or small platform is sent up and down the track by a set of hand or foot controls. There are several well known manufacturers of stair lifts including: AmeriGlide, Summit, and Acorn. A quality stair lift has been thoroughly tested for safety and has built in safeguards, but it is still very important to safely use and maintain these devices.
One of the most important ways to ensure safety is to follow the installation instructions, properly installing the stair lift using the correct tools and materials. Most reputable dealers have trained installation technicians available, so if you do not feel comfortable installing the stair lift yourself, you should contact your dealer. Once the stair lift is installed it is imperative that you use the stair lift in the manner it was designed, especially paying close attention to the weight capacity. Most stair lifts utilize high grade materials, but you can put an unsafe strain on the device if you go over the weight limit. Stair lifts made by AmeriGlide are some of the most reliable and safe in the industry. They all utilize high grade aircraft cable that has a breaking point of 4200 pounds, but this does not mean that you should in any way disregard the stated weight capacity.
It is extremely important that you do not allow children to play on the stair lift. Most stair lifts have, either included or as an extra option, some sort of locking mechanism. If you live with small children, the locking mechanism is a good investment because it ensures that the unit will not be used when you are not around to monitor it. If the unit is to be in a public area, like a church or a school, then it goes without saying that some sort of lock will be necessary.
Stair lifts manufactured by Summit and AmeriGlide have built in sensors on the footrest that stop the stair lift if it detects objects that could impede the stair lifts movement. They are also designed to not move if the seat is not in the correct locked position, which ensures that the unit will be used correctly. You should never try to bypass these safety features, because it can result in serious injury. In models that do not have a seat belt included, it is a good idea to purchase one separately. Just like in your car seat belts can save lives so make sure you buckle up.
Most stair lifts offer foldable seats that save space when the unit is not in use. If others use your stairs it is a good idea to get in the habit of folding the seat after each use. This will free up space on the stairs and allow for others to safely traverse the steps. If used correctly your stair lift will provide years of safe quality service. Like anything though it is important to follow the instructions on use provided with the unit and to under no circumstances let the unit be used as a toy.
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