Simple Ways To Safely Handle A Rolling Walker

By Michelle Olson


People don't usually think of walkers as being dangerous or a hazard. Most of the individuals who use them are senior citizens or those recovering from surgery. It surprises many that this equipment is routinely responsible for concussions, broken bones, and crashes. It's good to be careful around people who are using this equipment, but the operator has some responsibility when it comes to using a rolling walker safely.

Most walkers can be adjusted for height. Ideally the top bar should be level with your wrists when your arms are hanging at your sides. You should walk inside the equipment, not beside it. There is sometimes a temptation to look down at the seat instead of ahead. Keeping your body erect as you walk will not only help your posture, it will make it easier to watch where you are going.

When you are walking with a piece of equipment in front of you, it can be difficult to see something lying on the floor or ground immediately in your path. This is especially true when you are outside. The ground can be uneven, and there can be cracks and holes in pavement. Inside you have to be careful of area rugs that can move or bunch when you try to drive over them. Some doorways have strips that can trip you up if you don't see them.

People who wear glasses and hearing aids need to use them with walkers. When you enter or leave a room, be sure to look both ways so you don't accidentally run into someone with your walker. It could cause serious injury. If you are in line, you need to keep a healthy distance between you and the person in front of you. Getting in a hurry could cause you to fall, even with the walker.

If walkers are not in good working order, they can be dangerous. You should inspect the wheels for any trash or debris you might have picked up. The rubber tips on leg bottoms need to be secure and unworn. If the seat tips back and forth, it should be screwed tighter.

Walkers with seats are for the convenience of the users. They allow a person to sit and rest for a few minutes if necessary. Walkers are not wheelchairs however. They were not made to be pushed while someone sits in the seat. It could tip over or break from too much weight. Overloading it with grocery bags or other packages can also make it vulnerable to tipping.

Common courtesy dictates some situations that concern people with walkers. Leaving them in aisles in movie theaters can be dangerous and violate fire codes. When you are seated at a restaurant, the waiter will probably be happy to take your walker to an area out of the way of other guests.

Walkers are great pieces of equipment for those with mobility problems. They allow users to get up and use their leg muscles, which is good exercise. Being able to get around can relieve stress and help with depression as well.




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