Stairlifts are vital pieces of equipment that help those suffering from mobility issues. Navigating your home can be challenging when you’re living with mobility issues or disability, and it’s important to be able to access the top of the stairs with ease when no one is around to help you.
A mobility device such as a stairlift offers a comfortable and streamlined journey up and down your stairs, allowing you to regain independence and travel around complex areas of your property safely.
To prevent falls or serious injury from occurring, it’s crucial to understand stairlift safety. Continue reading to find out everything you need to know about stairlift safety.
What is a Stairlift?
Essentially, a stairlift is a mobility aid that allows homeowners to feel confident navigating the stairs in their homes. A motorised device used to transport people to the lower and upper levels of their property, a stairlift makes stairs safer to travel.
Stairlifts are installed on a rail along the staircase, which allows you to carry yourself up and down the stairs safely. Commonly used by individuals experiencing mobility problems or injuries, stairlifts offer much convenience when it comes to navigating your stairs alone.
In most cases, stairlifts are safe to use if they’ve been installed correctly and offer key safety features, such as a retractable safety belt and a powered swivel seat, to name a few.
Key Safety Considerations
There are some safety tips and considerations when it comes to operating your stairlift properly. Stairlifts are designed to provide you with a safe way of navigating your stairs, but additional steps can be taken to ensure that you operate your device safely and get to the top or bottom of your home efficiently with no issues.
Opt For Professional Installation
To stay safe while you use your stairlift, it’s crucial to have your device installed by a professional and reputable company. Proper installation is crucial to ensuring the safety and functionality of a stairlift.
If you fail to ensure your stairlift is being installed professionally, you could experience complex issues further down the line, or, even worse, endure an injury while you’re operating your stairlift.
Regular Maintenance
Routine maintenance is key. Like any other piece of equipment, it’s important to make sure your stairlift is in good working order and condition.
Stairlifts require regular maintenance, which can be done by either yourself, a family member, or a trusted technician. Scheduling maintenance checks allows you to identify issues and get them resolved quickly before they have a chance to escalate.
Read The User Manual
User manuals offer all the important information you need to know regarding how to operate your stairlift and where the key parts are located. In your stairlift user manual, you can find crucial information such as weight guidelines, and instructions on how to fix any problems that arise.
Knowing how much weight your stairlift can hold and where key components are fitted is vital. Utilising this handy booklet will give you the best chance of being able to prevent issues from occurring or potential problems from developing.
Understand The Weight Capacity
Understanding the maximum weight limit for your stairlift is important. A stairlift isn’t designed for more than one person, and no matter your size, you shouldn’t carry small children or heavy pets on your stairlift with you.
Only one person should operate a stairlift at a time to prevent your stairlift from breaking or an injury from taking place. Weight limits are clearly stated in the user manual to ensure optimal stairlift safety.
Clear any Obstructions
To keep stairlifts safe to operate, it’s important to check the surrounding area of your staircase for any obstructions. Potential obstructions can cause damage to your stairlift, preventing you from using your device in times of need.
Safety Features of Stairlifts
Stairlifts come with several safety features to meet multiple safety standards. From safety sensors to a reliable seatbelt, stairlifts are designed to ensure a safe and comfortable ride at a steady speed. Stairlifts are equipped with seatbelts to secure users in place as they travel up and down their staircase.
A seat belt helps reduce the risk of someone falling out of their stairlift during transit. Additionally, most modern stairlifts come with comfortable swivel seats that allow users to embark and disembark from their stairlifts conveniently and with ease.
Stairlifts are relatively easy to use and can often be started with the touch of a button. Remote controls enable users to call or send the stairlift to a specific location on the staircase, providing easy and quick use.
In most cases, stairlifts come with extra battery packs in case of emergencies. This ensures uninterrupted operation during power outages. However, more stairlift models are being designed with battery-operated features.
Finding a Safe and Reliable Stairlift to Have Installed in Your Home
Finding a safe and long-lasting stairlift can be difficult, but not with Halton Stairlifts. Here at Halton Stairlifts, we have a wide range of modern and luxurious stairlifts to choose from. With key safety features and extreme comfortability, our stairlifts are ideal for either yourself or a family member.
Safety is our top priority, and our customers mean everything to us. Whether you’re in need of a straight or curved stairlift, we have an array of different models to choose from. Our straight stairlifts are perfect for simple staircase designs, whereas our curved range is best suited for homeowners with a complex staircase type.
We’re experts when it comes to installing a stairlift, and our DBS-checked engineers provide customers with support, guidance, and advice at all times. Our stairlifts are battery-operated, meaning you’ll still be able to use your device during a power cut.
If you’re unsure whether you’re ready to fully commit to having a stairlift installed in your home, we encourage you to utilise our convenient rental services, too. If you’d like to find out more information about our stairlifts today, please contact us.
Neil is the founder of Halton Stairlifts. He has years of experience installing stairlifts across the UK. With an eagerness to help those with mobility issues get up the stairs, Neil understands how important it is for a seamless and straightforward approach to installing stairlifts to help those in need quickly.