Securing a wheelchair and its occupant during transport is essential for the safety of everyone in the vehicle. The forces involved in a sudden stop or collision can turn an improperly secured wheelchair into a significant hazard. Proper securement ensures the mobility device remains stationary and the passenger is safely restrained against crash forces. Following established safety procedures is crucial, as incorrect methods are dangerous.
Required Tie-Down Components
The foundation of a safe wheelchair securement system lies in the specialized hardware installed in the van. This system is composed of three distinct parts: the floor anchor points, the tie-down straps, and the securement points on the wheelchair itself. The van floor is equipped with tracks, often called L-Track, or individual floor anchors. These anchors provide robust attachment points and must be secured directly to the vehicle’s chassis to withstand crash forces.
Tie-down straps connect the wheelchair to the floor anchors and come in two primary types. Manual belt systems use adjustable straps and a ratchet or buckle mechanism, requiring the user to pull the slack out to create tension. Retractable systems are more common and convenient, featuring a self-tensioning mechanism that automatically locks the strap into place once connected. Both types utilize metal hooks, often J-hooks, to connect to the wheelchair frame. The wheelchair must have designated, strong securement points, ideally four of them, built into the frame to handle the load-bearing stress of the tie-downs.
Step-by-Step Wheelchair Securement
The process begins by positioning the wheelchair within the designated securement zone inside the van. The chair must always face forward and be centered to ensure the restraint system functions correctly during a frontal impact. Once positioned, the brakes must be firmly locked. For power chairs, the power should be turned off to prevent accidental movement during securement.
The industry standard requires a four-point securement, using two tie-downs for the front of the chair and two for the rear. The front tie-downs are attached low on the frame and angled forward to prevent the wheelchair from moving backward. All straps must be connected only to load-bearing parts of the chair’s frame, such as near welded junctions, and never to removable components like footrests, armrests, or wheels.
The rear tie-downs are attached to the lower frame at the back of the chair and angled rearward to create tension against the front straps. This diagonal placement and opposition of forces stabilize the chair against both forward and backward motion. After all four straps are connected, the system must be tensioned to remove all slack, securing the chair firmly against the floor.
A simple check involves gently pushing and pulling on the wheelchair to confirm it does not shift or move within the securement zone. The ideal tension prevents movement but is not so excessive that it stresses the frame or makes release difficult. Proper tensioning ensures the chair remains stable during normal driving maneuvers, preventing tipping or sliding.
Occupant Restraint System
Securing the wheelchair occupant is a separate step from securing the mobility device itself. The occupant restraint system consists of a lap belt and a shoulder harness, designed to protect the passenger’s body during a crash, not to hold the wheelchair in place. The entire restraint system must be anchored directly to the vehicle’s structure, not to the wheelchair frame, to provide maximum crash protection.
The lap belt is placed low across the passenger’s pelvis, fitting snugly over the bony structure of the hips and thighs. This placement is necessary because the pelvis is a strong skeletal area capable of absorbing crash forces; placing the belt over the soft tissue of the abdomen can result in severe internal injuries. The shoulder harness must cross the middle of the chest and the collarbone, avoiding the neck area, and connect to the lap belt near the hip.
The belt should lie flat against the body without any twists, maintaining close contact with the shoulder and chest. Many modern wheelchairs meet WC19 standards, ensuring a clear path for proper placement of these vehicle-anchored restraint belts. A final inspection of all four tie-downs and the three-point occupant restraint system confirms the safety of the setup before the vehicle is moved.