Assistive equipment for use with ALS patients requires that the operator treat the equipment with a high level of care, and to operate it with discipline to prevent injury or damage to property.
Understand the equipment. It is very important to understand how to assemble, operate, and maintain any assistive equipment. Consult the operator's manual or instructional materials provided by the manufacturer.
Use the equipment as it was intended. Equipment should never be repurposed for tasks for which it was not designed. Equipment should never be overloaded, or used in a harsh environment, such as extreme temperatures.
Keep equipment fully assembled. Equipment should always be left fully assembled, unless it is being transported or stored. Never leave a piece of equipment in a partially assembled state, as it may appear to be ready for use when it is not. The unassembled parts may be critical for safe operation.
Keep equipment ready for next use. Equipment that requires fitment of disposable parts, such as a commode liner, should be fitted with those parts before the next time it is to be used. Once it has been used and these parts are removed, they should be immediately replaced. This approach will make future uses faster and less error-prone.
Use all safety mechanisms. Equipment fitted with brakes, locks, or other safety mechanisms should always have these systems fully engaged at all times.
Keep electrical equipment turned off and charging. Equipment that uses electrical power should always be turned off when not in active use. Battery-operated equipment should be fully charged at all times, unless the manufacturer recommends an occasional trickle-down to minimize battery degradation. Most battery-operated medical equipment is supplied with a charger that efficiently manages battery health automatically.
Disassemble and reassemble equipment systematically. Equipment may need to be disassembled and reassembled between uses, or to be transported. Disassembly and reassembly should occur in the same manner each time, to promote muscle memory and avoid making mistakes or losing parts.
The total number of parts required for assembly should be memorized, and after assembly or disassembly, all parts should be accounted for. Failure to do this may result in injury, or in the case of transport, parts being left behind at the point of origin.
| Table: parts list for a disassembled manual wheelchair | |
|---|---|
| Part | Count |
| Seat back | 1 |
| Seat bottom | 1 |
| Foot rests | 2 |
| Drive wheels | 2 |
| Chassis | 1 |
| – | Total: 7 |
Maintain the equipment. Consult the owners manual for information about periodic maintenance, such as cleaning, lubrication, or replacement of wearable parts.
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