Planning To Go On A Cruise? Here Is What You Got To Keep In Mind If You Are Wheelchair Bound

For those who are wheelchair bound, going on a cruise can be a great way of exploring the world. Here, you are sure to get a lot of help from the cruise ship’s staff who have special arrangements for limited mobility guests.

However, not all cruise ships provide you this facility, many of them also do not have the disabled friendly rooms and restrooms in their ships. Therefore, you got to do your homework so that you can choose a cruise ship that will cater to your specific demands.

Room size

The sizes of the rooms vary from ship to ship. Some ships have nice and big rooms while others have smaller ones. Before you book your cruise, you need to ask the cruise operator what size room they can provide so that you can move around with your wheelchair in the room. You should also ask whether they are providing a wheelchair friendly toilet and bathroom or not. The room should also have charging points for your electric wheelchair if you are using one. To ensure that you do not have any nasty surprises, do tell the cruise operator the dimensions of your Lightweight Electric Wheelchair so that they can provide you with the best accommodation.

Getting Around on the cruise ship

In cruise ships, the gangways, corridors, and walkways can be pretty narrow. You can embark on the ship using cruise piers which are level or through an elevator. However, at many ports, tenders and gangways are used, and if you cannot climb the steps to the tender, you might not be allowed to disembark. Do confirm this with the cruise operator first before booking your tickets.

Getting help onboard the ship

The cruise operator can do as much as needed for you to have a great time for your holiday. However, it is also your responsibility to ensure that you tell the operator of your specific requirements so that they can arrange that for you. This has to be done well in advance so that there is no misunderstanding and nasty surprises when you are on the cruise.

This is especially true in the case when you are traveling solo. If you have someone with you, this can be a great way to make things easier.

Going on shore with your wheelchair

Agreed, the cruise liner ensured that you had the best of times with the best of disabled friendly arrangements. However, you might not be able to go on all shore excursions as these ports will use a cruise pier that will have steps. If there are tendons and gangways used then it will be quite difficult for you to disembark from the ship. To know of the complete details of each place that the cruise ship visits, you can contact the cruise ship operator who will let you know which places you can go to visit which allows you to disembark.

For those of you who are eager to see new places through a cruise ship, it can always be a great way to relax after all that you have been going through back home. Even if you have limited mobility, you can have a great experience on the cruise ship for your holiday, just ensure that you do your research well in advance.

Confined To A Wheelchair? Here’s How You Can Stay Fit

If you are confined to a wheelchair, that doesn’t mean the end of the world. You can still do things that any normal person can do. In fact, you need to do things that normal people do. One of them is exercising. You can no longer complain that being confined to a wheelchair means you cannot do any exercising. Staying put in the same position can have detrimental effects on your health. You need to exercise well to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Here’s how you can ensure that you are fit.

Keep yourself focused and motivated

If you have been confined to a wheelchair, it is natural to feel depressed and alone. However, being in such a state does not mean the end of the world. You need to motivate yourself to move ahead in life and achieve the goals that you have set for yourself.

Watch your schedule and diet

You need to ensure that you eat well. Always ensure that you eat a healthy diet of fresh vegetables and fruits. You should consume more proteins and fewer carbohydrates and fats. Stay away from oily foods and ensure that you eat more fish and red meats.

Being in a wheelchair, you are more prone to weight gain due to limited activities. You also need to ensure that you do not consume too much of fatty foods like bakery products, fast food items, and rice.

Having said that, you need to keep a schedule of your meals during the day. You should ensure that you eat on time and sleep on time. If you do not stick to the schedule, this may result in an unhealthy lifestyle which can ultimately mean gaining weight.

How you can be active

Sitting the whole day in your Lightweight Electric Wheelchair is not an option. You must do some kind of exercise to stay healthy. One way is to go out and enjoy the fresh air while interacting with other people. You can also indulge in wheelchair sports using your lightweight electric wheelchair like badminton. The main aim is that you should be doing a physical activity, which can help you to stay fit.

If your health permits, you can try swimming or rowing and even wheelchair sprinting. In fact, these are Paralympic sports that are famous where wheelchair-bound people all around the world compete for medals.

Nonetheless, these are the ways in which you can stay active even if you have mobility issues. You can use the best Lightweight Wheelchairs from here in the UK and across the world and ensure that you can live a normal life like everyone does.

How To Stay Safe On A Road Trip If You Are Travelling With A Person With Mobility Issues

Having mobility issues does not mean that you are incapable of doing things that normal people do. You can very well do everything, it’s just that a little bit of precautions need to be taken to make life easier for you. If you plan on going for a road trip, you can enjoy the bright sunlight, the cool breeze of the mountains or the sweet smell of the beaches, wherever you plan to holiday. To ensure that your trip doesn’t end up on a sour note, here are some tips that you can follow for an amazing road trip.

Ensure your vehicle is wheelchair friendly

Many of you might have a wheelchair accessible vehicle where you can remove a seat and let your wheelchair in. If this is not the case, you can rent such a vehicle. Before doing so, you need to check every aspect of the vehicle- it should have its oiling done at regular intervals and it should be well maintained. Additionally, you also need to ask whether the door tracks have been cleaned or not and whether the ramps are working correctly and are not slipping from its position. Moreover, you need to examine the power seats- if it is working as expected or not. After all of these checks are done, you are then good to go.

Planning your trip with your wheelchair accessible vehicle

Whenever you are planning a trip with your Lightweight Electric Wheelchair, you need to plan your entire trip in detail beforehand to ensure a smooth and memory filled trip. You can do this by ensuring that your electric wheelchair can easily fit in your wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Throughout the journey, you need to see whether there are wheelchair friendly accommodations and restrooms so that you can have a comfortable journey. If you have a health issue or dietary needs, you should keep emergency food and water handy in the vehicle, so that you do not need to hustle at the last moment, lest there is an emergency. This is especially crucial if you are travelling to a place with a colder climate.

Make the trip memorable for everyone

If it is you who is on the wheelchair and driving, it can get a little tiring if you are not exercising other parts of your body. To keep your mind focused, you should talk to the person sitting next to you and let him or her relay the directions to the destination for you.

If it’s a child that’s on the wheelchair, you can get him to play games that can keep him busy during the entire journey- he can count the coloured cars or play any verbal games with you. The main aim is that your child should not get bored and restless during the journey.

Having said all of this, travelling for those with mobility issues is no rocket science. Just a few precautions taken is all that is needed to ensure a good, enjoyable trip.

Top 5 products with which you can travel effortlessly in old age

No longer do you need to depend on someone else for your errands. With these amazing products from Smartscooter, you can go wherever you want independently. For everyone who has mobility issues, we have products that cater to all kinds of people, irrespective of their health status. With these products, you can travel wherever you want within a city and not worry about how to get back home. We bring to you products which are specially tailored to your requirements so that you can always count on them on a daily basis. Here are five products that can help you stay mobile in old age.

TGA Minimo Plus 4 Folding Mobility scooter:

The TGA Minimo Plus 4 Folding Mobility scooter comes with the same simple folding design and compact size as the Minimo Folding Mobility scooter. Additionally, it also has features that are only found on much larger scooters. The front wheels are spaced much further apart for greater stability. The tires are pneumatic for a smooth and comfortable ride while giving greater ground clearance. The entire scooter is made of strong carbon fiber keeping the overall weight to a minimum. This is one scooter perfect for anyone who always wants to remain independent.

Rascal Pioneer:

This scooter has been designed for the disabled. It has an upgraded controller and charger which gives it reliability and improved performance. Its powerful motor allows you to travel for a 35-mile range and it is also considered ideal for use in much more challenging environments. The Rascal Pioneer has 12-inch wheels along with all-around coil spring suspension, perfect for all kinds of terrain. This scooter can handle weights up to 159 kg.

Supa Scoota Sprint HD Folding Mobility Scooter :

This is a heavy duty model capable of handling loads up to 125 kg. This scooter can be used anywhere- indoors or outdoors, even on steep hills, depending on your choice. The Supa Scoota has a lot of features not normally seen on a lightweight scooter- you can forward and reverse drive the scooter, there are electromagnetic brakes and an optional stability package to make the scooter extremely safe for everyone, even inexperienced users.

Pride Jazzy 600ES Powerchair:

This is a power chair that lets you use it wherever needed- inside or outside, with its compact design and standard Active-Trac ATX suspension. This is a superb-all round chair which is an upgrade from the popular Jazzy Select 6 model. The seat on this power chair can be folded flat for easy transport.

Drive Smart Folding Mobility Scooter:

This lightweight scooter, weighing only 20kg has been designed with convenience in mind. It can be stored easily and taken along for holidays whenever needed. This scooter can be folded and unfolded easily using a remote control in less than 20 seconds. It also has various other features like speed reduction when the scooter is taking a turn, an auto-stop function, and an anti-slip foot carpet. All of these provide the best comfort and peace of mind to the user.

 

Wheelchair Transport Safety Tips For Disabled Children

The travelling through cars, trains, buses, etc is exactly done to meet the accessibility needs. But when you travel with someone with mobility issues there are many things that you need to consider. The people with disability have very less strength in their disability affected area which doesn’t give them a complete grip over their body. This gives them a limited amount of ability during travelling in various transportation mediums.

The most common challenges that disabled people especially children face is mounting on trains, cars, buses etc. The ground clearance of the buses, cars, trains, etc is very high and most of the vehicles have no ramps that can support the wheelchairs. The seating area on different vehicles also plays an important part in the safety of the disabled children. The load distribution and the road bump reaction on the vehicles are also important so seat belts and cushioned seats are also important for the safety. Just like the above-mentioned factors, there are other factors that should be considered. These factors are more like tips that can ensure the safety of the disabled children when travelling. Here are some other wheelchair transport safety tips for disabled children.

Medicinal Supplies

The medicinal supplies are an important thing for kids and their well being during any travel. If the kid has a sensitive health condition then the doctors recommend for the little one not to travel. If the travelling cannot be delayed then the parents or the guardians travelling with them should carry all the necessary medicinal supply. This can help them to control any health problems during any travelling. Hence to keep the little one safe, it is important to carry the medicinal supplies.

Seat Belts And Tie Downs

During travelling the seat belts and tie downs are important so that the wheelchairs don’t roll around in the vehicles or worse fall out of the vehicles. In trains and buses, there are seat belts and tie downs which strongly holds the wheelchairs during the vehicle movements. There are special seats that have strong seat belts which can make the travelling easier for the little one with a disability.

Ramps

The ramps are the primary things that are required in any vehicles. These ramps make easier for the wheelchairs to mount or dismount the vehicles. For little ones, their body is fragile so it is recommended to have a ramp so their wheelchairs along with them can be mounted in the vehicle. The ramps can be installed in any vehicles that have space inside it to store the wheelchair. Hence ramps are really important if you are travelling with someone in wheelchairs.

Type Of Wheelchairs

The type of wheelchair that the kid is using is also important. The transportation can become easier if the wheelchair that you choose is perfect. There are many things that you should consider before selecting a wheelchair. If the wheelchair is light then it can be easier for the person pulling the wheelchair to mount and dismount the vehicle. If it is an electrically Powered Wheelchair then the kid can mount and dismount the vehicle by themselves.

Here are some of the tips that can help you maintain the safety of the disabled children in wheelchairs during travelling. The above-mentioned can be really helpful for you to take your children with disability to various places. This can help the disabled children to go on picnics with you, attend family functions, go to malls, etc. Hence don’t let the disability stop your children from having fun.

Which Type Of Wheelchairs Are Well Suited On Grass?

The Wheelchairs originally were designed for flat grounds and tough and plain terrain. The main motive of the wheelchair was to get around the house with ease and the outdoor application of wheelchair was not yet discovered. As the time modernized, the wheelchairs modernized along with them. Then a new range of wheelchairs came which have made moving on various terrains easy. These wheelchairs were equipped with modern tires and latest technologies which made the wheelchair efficient enough to move on various terrains.

The new breed of wheelchairs made moving around the house and neighborhood easier for disabled people. The main reason for the wheelchairs to work exceptionally on the grass and other slippery or dense terrain is the attachments that come with modern wheelchairs. In some wheelchair, the default equipment is all terrain-friendly. The user who wants to buy a wheelchair sometimes doesn’t understand the basic design of the wheelchair which is suited for grass terrain. Here are some types of wheelchairs that are well suited for grass terrain and will help the user to move around anywhere they want with ease.

Rascal P327 Powerchair

This type of wheelchair is really suitable in grass terrain because of the balance wheels on both front and back. The power wheel will have complete power to move as it doesn’t have to balance the user. The coil spring suspension and comfortable seating will give the user an eased feeling of moving through the grass.

Shoprider Lugano Powerchair

The Shoprider wheelchairs are recognized for their comfortable seating and easy movement on slippery terrain. The Shoprider Lugano is an efficient addition to the efficient line of Shoprider powerchair. The tires are specially designed to work on grassy terrain with the help of support wheels.

These types of chairs are available on online platforms such as Smart Scooters. These wheelchairs are really helpful for the user to move around on grassy terrains. The Smart scooter also provides mobility scooters along with Lightweight Electric Wheelchair which can be used by the users based on their situation.

Important Tips on Camping For Disabled People

A camping trip is a fun activity, especially when enjoyed with the family and friends. There are many people with disabilities that are many times deprived of this fun just because they are limited to a wheelchair or crutches. It is not necessary that you cancel the plan due to the disabled individual or carry out your trip without them. Whether the person camping is in a wheelchair or not, each person has equal rights to enjoy the trip and camp.

Sometimes there are many disabled individuals who just give up because of their conditions. Those individuals should keep a positive attitude towards life and all the challenges. Although camping is an activity that requires a physical dominance to get to places, there are many camping spots that specially accommodate disabled people. And there are many people that visit these places every year and most of them are with some disability. Here are some tips that can help you make your trip a better one regardless of your disability.

Easily accessible campground

The campground where you want to set up camp should be easily accessible from the road. If the grounds are plane and have grass landscape then the person on a wheelchair or mobility scooter can easily get around the grounds. If you are planning a camping trip to a place, then you should call beforehand and make sure that the camping grounds are friendly to campers on wheelchairs & Mobility Scooters. There are many Lightweight Mobility Scooters that can easily cruise on grassy and sloppy grounds that are preferable for camping.

Camp in daylight

If you are camping with a disabled person then make sure that the camping is carried out in broad daylight. This will allow you and the disabled person to get around to places without any hassle. There are even campsites where the whole ground is lit with artificial lights and so if you are planning a two-day trip then make sure to select such camping sites.

Travel in a pack

The main motive for camping is to socialize. Camping in a group can give you the opportunity to socialize with your group. There are many organizations that organize a camping trip for disabled where they take many people in a wheelchair to amazing places. If you go on such camping trips then you will surely get an opportunity to socialize. Hence make sure to search for the complete package before you sign up.

Pack right

There are many needs during the camping trips and if you pack appropriately you can satisfy such needs. Make sure to always pack right so that you can travel easily from one camping site to another if necessary. Make sure to take all the medicines (if any) and a lot of water so that you can stay hydrated. Apart from the essentials, if you have any hobbies like fishing, reading, etc then it is recommended to bring the gear necessary for fishing and the book you want to read. Hence it is recommended to pack right rather than packing light.

Camping surely demands a lot of energy and time and it may seem like it is impossible for a disabled person. You have to keep that confidence that you can enjoy this trip the way you like. If you follow the above-mentioned tips you will surely enjoy a fun camping trip with your friends and families.

Tips For A Mobility Scooter User To Plan A Getaway

It is an undeniable fact that planning a holiday for a mobility scooter user is not an easy task but as a matter of fact, it is possible. Although you need a lot of planning and make reservations, it is possible for a mobility scooter user to enjoy a trip to their desired place. The tourist places all around the world are now made friendly to disabled people. There are elevators and ramps everywhere you visit whether it is a hotel, museum, or other places.

There are very few people who actually know how to plan their holiday when they are limited to a mobility scooter. There are many things that need to be considered before planning a holiday especially when you are on a mobility scooter. Anyone with an adventurous soul on a mobility scooter can enjoy their vacation if they have a proper plan regarding the vacation that they are planning. Here are some of those planning tips that can help you make your trip successful regardless of your physical disability.

Get to places early

If you are on a mobility scooter then it is obvious that you get to places early to avoid any delay. Whether it is at the airport or other public transport stations, getting early will make sure that you don’t miss your ride anywhere. You can pass your time at the station with the ones that you are travelling.

Mobility scooter friendly accommodation

If you are travelling to a far place then make sure that the hotel is mobility scooter friendly. You can get the appropriate details from the internet regarding the hotel and the public transportation that you are opting for. Hence you can opt for your favourite hotel on the list based on the online ratings.

Take someone with you

If you are travelling alone for the first time, then make sure that you are accompanied by someone who can take care of you. This is necessary for you if you are going out for the first time because you might not know what kind of challenges you will be facing. Therefore, it can be beneficial to have an extra set of hands with you on your adventure.

Join any group tour

There are many tour groups that take disabled individuals together on a tour. Such tour groups can really be a great option for the people who love to travel regardless of their disability. These tour groups make sure that all the places that you visit are wheelchair and mobility scooter friendly. Hence you can also socialize and meet new people in the group.

Opt for compact equipment

When you are travelling, just make sure that all the equipment that you carry is compact including your mobility scooter. When the equipment that you use are compact and concealable travelling becomes easier for you and the person you are travelling with. There are Folding Mobility Scooters available on the market that can be stored in a small place. Hence make sure to opt for compact and concealable equipment.

Here are some of the tips for the mobility scooter users that can help you in planning your holiday. Apart from these tips, you need to make sure to take care of yourself. These tips are really useful regardless of the place that you choose for visiting. Therefore, these tips are really a complete guide for your dream adventure trip.

How to Prepare Yourself When You Travel With Your Disabled Relative?

Travelling is an amazing feeling but when the person that you are travelling with has a disability of some sort then you have to make plans according to it. The person that you are travelling with needs attention and care so if you are thinking about travelling with them you should be ready according to it.

If you are travelling with your disabled relative then you should also take care of their medicines and their timing of medicines so that they don’t miss any essential dose. If they are unable to walk then you should take their mobility equipment such as a wheelchair, crutches, or a walker. But if you opt to travel by air then there are many options for wheelchairs that are provided by the airlines. You should pack the bags and plan the trip by considering the comfort of the disabled person that you are travelling with. Here are some tips that can help you to plan your trip by considering the comfort of the person that you are travelling with which can eventually help you to have a great trip.

Plan everything beforehand

This is surely a lifesaving tip for any trip with a disabled relative. The route of your trips and the number of days you are planning to stay and travel should be planned beforehand to make sure that you are not missing anything. Take your time to pack all the required things so if you forget anything you will have the time to figure it out.

Medicines

If the disabled person has any medication recommended by the doctors then don’t forget to pack those medicines for them. There are many cases that get worse after they forget their medication at home and have to rush to the emergency ward. Hence it is important to pack the medicines along with their other essentials.

Equipment

The wheelchair, walker, or the mobility scooter of the individual should be taken along on the trip so that they can be more independent. There are foldable wheelchairs and walkers and even Portable Mobility Scooters that are specially designed for such occasions. Travelling with these portable and foldable equipment can make the travel much easier.

Luggage

The luggage of both yours and the disabled person should be minimal. This will allow you to move more easily with the person without facing any difficulties. If you are travelling with more people who have no health issues then you can carry more luggage without any hesitation. If you are travelling via any airline make sure that your bags are tagged properly and handled with care and more importantly it doesn’t get lost at the airport.

Kids

If you are travelling with kids then it is recommended that you travel with more adults that can take care of the kids while you handle the disabled individual. Kids can be running around and in some cases could get lost at larger places such as a mall or an airport. Having an extra set of hands that can take of the kids can be beneficial for you and the disabled individual that you are travelling with.

The transportation systems are becoming more and more handicap friendly every day. They are making ramps at required places so that the individual can move around the complex structure with ease. In spite of that, it is recommended to be more caring regarding the individual that you are travelling with. The above-given tips can surely help you to take care of the disabled individual during travel.