Overview 5/8/ Match 3 aircraft with the size of the hatch openings below the wing for storage of wheelchairs.

Transcription

1 Air Travel Using a Wheelchair: What Seating and Mobility Experts Should Know Jessica Presperin Pedersen, OTD, MBA, OTR/L, ATP/SMS The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab formerly Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Mary Shea, MA, OTR, ATP Clinical Manager, Wheelchair Clinic Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation Objectives 1-Identify at least 2 boarding devices and safety considerations that non-ambulatory passengers need to be aware of to maximize safety with assisted transfers. 2-Match 3 aircraft with the size of the hatch openings below the wing for storage of wheelchairs. 3-Identify 2 ways the consumer can protect the wheelchair before giving it to the below the wing service providers. Overview Making the Reservation Pre-Boarding Check-In TSA (Security) Departure Gate Boarding Gate Check Stowage 1

2 General Considerations for Clients Be prepared - advanced preparation is key Level of assistance needed Travelling alone or with companion Length of flight Seat cushion protect your skin! Bladder management Swelling compression stockings Advanced Preparation Wheelchair Bag Duffle bag/carry-on Storage of items you need to remove from wheelchair Cushion for airline seat Duct tape Wire tires Plastic roll to wrap wheelchair Towel standard bath size Labels with contact information (name, phone, address) Power Wheelchair: Make a sign with instructions (10 copies) Tips for Making Reservation Purchase tickets in advance Indicate you use a wheelchair Fill out any information pertaining to traveling with a wheelchair provided by the airline Seat assignment Check in online, Call airline 24 hours before to confirm 2

3 Check-In Arrive 2 hours before domestic flight Check-In Identify needs to Ticket Agent aisle chair/assistance Boarding pass Baggage check Checked baggage Carry-on Wheelchair to gate Gate-check items Carry On Essentials Everyone: Medications Supplies: Bladder management Cushion for plane seat Change of clothing Power Wheelchair: Signs for wheelchair Bags/Wrap to wrap it up Duct tape Wire ties /Carabineer clip TSA (Security) Consider using bathroom before (i.e., empty leg bag) going through security Security Bypass most line You DON T have to transfer out of your wheelchair Pat down 3

4 Going through TSA Boarding Domestic -Go to Gate ~1 hour before departure Speak to Ticket Agent as soon as they show up Check in and identify needs Seating confirmation; bulk head (yes/no) Isle chair and need 2 people for assistance Power Wheelchair: Speak to Pilot Speak to Head Baggage Agent Changing Stations- Throughout Europe and Canada First one in USA 2017 in Orlando 4

5 Boarding Getting on Plane Transfer to airline seat Transfer to boarding chair Transfer to airline seat Cushion: protect skin! Direct 2-person lift into airline seat or Independent transfer Overhead storage Boarding Devices: 1-Aislemaster Columbia Issues with Aislemaster Columbia Boarding Chair 5

6 Difficulty keeping feet on footplate Boarding Devices: 2-Staxi Boarding Device: Seat Concern Side view of Staxi seat showing thin padding Top view of Staxi seat showing wire grid 6

7 Boarding Devices: Staxi Issues with Staxi No armrests can make pop-over type independent transfers difficult ¼ padding on wire grid seat Straps too short Boarding Devices: 3-Eagle Lift 1-Safer transfers 2-Must sit on right side of aisle 3-Some people feel like hanging in air 4-Availability at airports 7

8 Simulating the legroom on an aircraft when bulkhead is not available Pressure Mapping on Columbia Sitting Pressures on Boarding Chairs vs Wheelchairs Columbia Sitting on Columbia without a cushion. Sitting on wheelchair with personal cushion. 8

9 Sitting Pressures on Boarding Chairs vs Wheelchairs- Staxi Sitting on Staxi without a cushion. Sitting on wheelchair with personal cushion. Survey Monkey Results Of 466 individuals who answered question How long are you sitting in the boarding chair? 38% 5 minutes or less 61% 10 minutes or less Presperin Pedersen & Axelson (2017) Unpublished results from Survey monkey questionnaire on Air Travel. Stowage Wheelchair Remove all items that can be removed Place in duffle bag for overhead storage Emphasize concept to clients..you know your equipment better than anyone else 9

10 Tagging & Tracking Tagging & Tracking Power Wheelchair Sign Sign suggestions: Before unloading, speak to pilot Weight of wheelchair: 375 pounds, Lift with 4 people, ONLY use blue lifting straps in lower corners Dimensions Unlock wheelchair, lift levers up Located behind large tires, marked with orange tape Type of batteries- gel cells do not have to be disconnected Do not use stairs, Elevator Transportation ONLY! Passenger Information: Name Cell phone Personal touch: Please be careful. This is my arms and legs. 10

11 Stowage of Wheelchairs on Commercial Aircraft On most aircraft there is storage for one manual wheelchair in the cabin of the aircraft. Most wheelchairs are stored in the belly of the aircraft Rehabilitatiaon Institute of Chicago/ Beneficial Designs/ PVA # Which of the following happened during transport? Answer all that apply No loss or damage 35% Lost wheelchair 14.9% Lost accessory 15.99% Damage Frame damage Joystick damage 57.84% 37% 22% 32 Boarding Wheelchair Manual wheelchair Storage on airplane in closet Storage in hold Remove all parts Power wheelchair Storage underneath Height issue Wrap up Don t forget sign 11

12 Boarding Wheelchair Removal of Control input Protection of Joystick 12

13 Boarding - Wheelchair Courtesy Ean Price- home made canister 37 Boarding - Wheelchair Courtesy Ean Price 38 Boarding Wheelchair Protective Coverings Haseltine Airshells 39 13

14 Boarding Wheelchair Wheelchair caddy rigid and folding 40 Hatch size to under belly of aircraft varies. Know what aircraft you will be on For large aircraft traveling long distances overseascan request canister for power wheelchair Smaller aircraft may not have space for wheelchair to be upright Some carriers will not transport wheelchair Find out if wheelchair can flex forward at back cane May want to have wheelchair in reclined position if height is low in stowage Aircraft Storage Area Differences 14

15 International Flights Canisters go up on lift. Luggage goes up conveyor belt 43 Airbus 320- can fit power in upright needs special handling to get through door- most regional a/c 45 15

16 MD United Express- Cargo Door- Power chair cannot go upright Rehabilitatiaon Institute of Chicago/ Beneficial Designs/ PVA # Rehabilitatiaon Institute of Chicago/ Beneficial Designs/ PVA #

17 Inside United Express Rehabilitatiaon Institute of Chicago/ Beneficial Designs/ PVA # RJ- Note Motor Blocking Cargo Door Rehabilitatiaon Institute of Chicago/ Beneficial Designs/ PVA # Process of loading a power wheelchair into the belly of the aircraft 17

18 Stop designed by Eric Lipp of Open Doors Organization 18

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20 Courtesy Open Doors and Global Repair Group 58 Reimbursement Customer Service for airline Complaint Review Person for airport Different Systems USA and Canadian Airlines will reimburse complete replacement Europe has $ replacement limit in some countries. (Darcy, 2012) 59 What about sitting on airline seat? Seating Surface Interface Pressure Boeing aircraft wheelchair seat cushion can replace std cushion Roho low profile cushion Action gel 1 cube gel cushion Gelovations 1 circle gel cushion 20

21 Stability in Seat Slight recline Chest support Body Point Universal Elastic Strap Sitting on aircraft accommodating feet when cushion raises seat height Commercially available products Host of Options Neck rolls Book/bag under feet Small Pillow 21

22 Flight Length of flight Pressure Relief Technique Bladder Management Mountain Dew Blanket Urine bag->gel Accessible bathroom Getting off the Plane Wait for wheelchair in airline seat Transfer to/from isle chair Same strategies as earlier Glance at wheelchair for obvious damage Make sure you have all your bags Get settled and off jet way asap Getting off the Plane In terminal Get settled in wheelchair and do a more thorough visual check of your wheelchair for damage Bladder management Baggage Claim Luggage pick up Equipment If problem with anything, take pictures & go to your airlines Baggage Claim and file paperwork 22

23 Questions??? Contact Info: Mary Shea, MA, OTR, ATP Clinical Manager, Wheelchair Clinic Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation Jessica Presperin Pedersen OTD, MBA, OTR/L, ATP, SMS The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab formerly RIC References Darcy, S. (2012). (Dis)embodied air travel experiences: Disability, discrimination and the affect of a discontinuous air travel chain, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 19. Presperin Pedersen, J., & Axelson, P. (2016). I m leaving on a jet plane. I hope I ll see my chair again. In Proceedings from 32 nd International Seating Symposium: Imagine the Possibilities, Vancouver, British Columbia: University of British Columbia United Spinal Association. (2013). Accessible air travel: A guide for people with disabilities. Kew gardens, NY: United Spinal Association. References Shea, Mary & Dyson-Hudson, Trevor. (2016). Tips and Tricks for Successful Air Travel, On the Move A Consumer Conference for People with Spinal Cord Injury, West Orange, NJ, September 23,