Getting The Right Wheelchair for Travel: A WC19-Compliant Wheelchair
By Manary, Miriam A.; Hobson, Douglas A.; Schneideer, Lawrence W.; Exceptional Parent Magazine, pp. 48-50Publication Date: May 2007
Article explores the advantages of using a WC19-compliant wheelchair for travel. A WC-19 wheelchair is one that is compliant with the voluntary Section 19 of the ANSI/RESNA wheelchair standards, providing design and performance criteria and test methods to assess whether a wheelchair can perform as a seat during a vehicle crash and work well with safety-belt systems. The standard is based on the same principles used to evaluate occupant protection and crashworthiness of vehicle seats and child safety seats. The advantages of a WC19-compliant wheelchair outlined are: (1) Reduced risk of injury for wheelchair riders involved in vehicle crashes; (2) Easier and faster wheelchair securement, as the wheelchair has 4 securement points where tiedown hooks and straps are attached; and (3) Improved compatibility with proper use of seatbelts, as WC19-compliant wheelchairs must provide the option of a wheelchair-mounted, crashworthy lap belt. This is the third article in the magazine's Wheelchair Transportation Safety series.
Published by: EP Global Communications (Website:http://www.eparent.com)
Link to text: http://www.rercwts.org/RERC_WTS2_KT/RERC_WTS2_KT_Pub/RERC_WTS_Pub_Doc/0507_WTS_GetWC19.pdf
