A common question among people shopping for a stair lift is, “Are they safe?”. Stair lifts that are installed properly by an experienced provider and used correctly are extremely safe. A quality installer such as Manchester Stairlifts go to great lengths to make sure their stair lifts meet rigorous safety standards.
Some of these design considerations include:
- Footplate and motor sensors that will detect an obstruction on the stairs and stop the lift
- Seats fitted with seatbelts that will keep a rider secured while the lift is in motion
- Swivel seats that will turn away from the top of the stairs while off loading
- Batteries that are constantly charging so that a lift can be used during a power outage
- Optional folding rail at the bottom of the stairs to avoid a tripping hazard
- Enclosed motor to prevent clothing or hair from becoming caught
While these design features go a long way to ensure safe use of a stair lift, there are things that the user should keep in mind to maximize safety.
- Make sure the user is able to stand, bear weight, and pivot
- Make sure wheelchair users have ample strength to safely transfer from wheelchair to stair lift
- Adhere to the stated weight capacity of your lift. Typically, between 300 and 400 lbs.
- Use safety features like the seat belt and swivel seat when riding and offloading the stair lift
- Use an experienced and licensed company to install your stair lift
- Schedule yearly preventive maintenance appointments with your provider
Final Thoughts
After buying a stair lift from us you will have little to worry We will be able to confirm various safety features on individual stair lift models and give proper instruction for use.
