While we are currently enjoying the opportunity to get out and about a little more after the months of the COVID-19 lockdown, we still have to very careful and follow the government guidelines. Wheelchair users have to be especially careful at this time. When people cough and sneeze, water droplets fall to the ground and as wheelchair users are closer to the ground, they could potentially be more exposed to Coronavirus. Also the tyres could become contaminated by the virus as they touch the ground and this could then be transferred to hands as they self-propel the wheelchair.
So what’s the best way to protect yourself when using your wheelchair when outside your home? There are four key tips which you should adopt to minimise the risk of picking up COVID-19.
Keep your hands clean
Try to avoid touching the tyres but propel your wheelchair by using the handrims. As soon as you have completed a journey in your wheelchair, it is very important that you wash your hands thoroughly with soap for 20 seconds. If you aren’t able to do this, use a hand sanitiser which has over 60% alcohol in it but aim to wash your hands with soap as soon as you can In addition, use anti-bacterial hand wipes to clean your hands before eating.
Keep your wheelchair clean
Clean the tyres of the wheelchair using a wet cloth which has been soaked in soapy water. Then wash the seat, armrests, footrests, backrests, brake handles and push handles – in other words, the whole wheelchair. This is important because coronavirus can actually survive on hard surfaces for up to 72 hours. Remember to clean your purse or backpack which is touching the chair.
Follow the guidelines about social distancing and wearing masks
Avoid crowds and try to stay at least 2m away from other people. This can be difficult as a wheelchair user is restricted to using footpaths and can’t easily divert to a grass verge. If a person sneezes or coughs near you, the water droplets could fall on you so it is a good idea to wear a face mask to prevent this as well as practising social distancing. You could also consider wearing plastic gloves but please avoid touching your face.
Keep your home clean
When you arrive home, the virus could be on your hands so it is very important to clean grab bars, door handles and anything else that you regularly touch. It would be a good idea to use hand sanitiser before entering your home.
By following this advice, you can reduce the risk of catching any virus and will hopefully help you avoid catching Coronavirus when using your wheelchair. Plus if you have any other questions about your wheelchair or need any wheelchair products such as a new cushion or a poncho, please feel free to call us on 028 3833 5771. Please stay safe everyone.
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