Important Safety Information Regarding Students Using Mobility Devices

 

Transfers:

-NIOSH recommends that the average worker lift no more than 51 pounds. This is based on ideal conditions of lifting a stable box from ground to waist height. However, when lifting or transferring people, NIOSH recommends a 35 pound limit due to multiple unpredictable variables (i.e.cooperation, ability to participate and understand directions, and muscle tone).  If no specific lifting/transfer guidelines are already in place (pending any school and/or LEA administrative and legal review), schools may wish to establish guidelines to ensure that a staff member has the ability to lift up to 50 pounds easily without assistance from others prior to placing a staff member with a student who requires assistance with transfers.

 

-Please request training from FJSPED PT staff for any staff members in your district who will be assisting students with transfers.  We prefer to complete transfer training at the beginning of each school year and are available to complete additional training throughout the school year.  We recommend having a wide variety of staff members trained (including administration, school nurse, multiple paraprofessionals, and teachers) in the event of staff absences, etc.  Please reach out to schedule training for your district each school year.

 

Transportation:

-Students transported in wheelchairs should be getting on/off the bus and secured on the bus properly.  They should also be participating in bus evacuation drills.  Please see attached training video and documents for guidance on this and contact PT staff with any questions or concerns.

 

Emergency Events:

-Students who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices should participate in all school evacuation drills and other emergency event drills.  Please contact PT staff if you have any questions or concerns or need assistance with evacuation/emergency planning for students in your district.

 

Adaptive Equipment

-Students use a wide variety of adaptive equipment throughout our districts.  We complete training on students’ specific adaptive equipment at the beginning of each school year, but please contact PT staff if additional training is needed at any time.

 

PT Contact Information:

Alyssa (Jefferson County): aburnett@fjsped.org

Rachel (Franklin County): rstacey@fjsped.org

 

 

Transportation in a Wheelchair
If a student rides in a wheelchair to and from school and/or on field trips, he/she should get on/off the bus or vehicle via a lift with the wheelchair facing outward, away from the bus. The wheelchair wheels should be locked for entering and exiting the bus via the lift. A staff member should assist the student onto and off the lift. Once on the bus, the student should be secured with wheelchair wheels locked, using four-point tie downs, and a lap/shoulder belt (in addition to the positioning belts on his/her wheelchair). The lap/shoulder belt should attach like a car seat belt, across the student’s chest and lap, and it should be placed against the student’s body and inside the wheelchair (NOT on the outside of the wheelchair against the wheel). Please see the photo below. Please let PT staff know if you have any questions or concerns about student positioning on the bus.

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