Stairlifts are a great addition to the home for those who struggle with mobility. They can help to increase independence and give people more freedom to move comfortably around their own homes. However, it is important to use your stairlift safely to avoid accidents and injury.
Firstly, ensure that you are always properly seated on the stairlift and have placed the arm rests down and have buckled the seatbelt to reduce the risk of you falling out of your stairlift.
This may not seem likely, but it can be extremely dangerous if you do happen to fall out of the stairlift, especially if you are close to the top of the stairs as it can be a long way to fall and can cause serious injuries.
Many people who use stairlifts have mobility issues which also means they may find it hard to get themselves back on their feet without help, so falling from your stairlift could leave you in an uncomfortable position for a long time until someone is able to assist you.
Ensure the stairlift is only used by one person at a time and try to stop children from using the lift as a toy. They are designed for single-person use and may break if the maximum weight limit is exceeded. Even children sitting on knees can be too heavy.
Children should not use the lift as a toy either. Small hands and feet can easily get trapped and hurt by the stairlift and children may also accidentally cause damage to the lift which can be costly to repair.
Ensure you maintain your stair lift well and address any issues as soon as possible. If your stairlift is malfunctioning or not working correctly, it is important you stop using it until it has been seen to in order to avoid further damage or injury.
