The all-seeing stairlift
Sensors on the footrest will spot an obstruction and halt movement
EACH year many thousands of people have an avoidable accident by tripping over something that has been carelessly left on the floor.
When you’re young and supple, you can dust yourself off and carry on.
But as we grow older, trips and falls can become more serious. They often cause greater injury, take longer to get over and, in some cases, can lead to other medical complications.
A fall can happen anywhere in the home, so it is important to keep floors and walkways clear of clutter — anything from a discarded shoe to a rucked-up rug. One place that is vital to keep clear is the staircase. A fall on level ground can be serious, but a fall on the stairs could be catastrophic.
It’s all too easy for things to get left on the stairs, from junk mail to books, especially if you have pets or there are children that visit your home who tend to drop toys.
Items can fall from a laundry basket, or a boiled sweet from a pocket. Even a discarded tissue could cause you to slip if you step on it.
For this reason, it’s important to make sure your stairs are well-lit and that you give them a quck once-over before using them. And they should never be used for storage. One way to stay safe on the stairs, especially when they start to become a struggle, is to install a stairlift.
It means you can go up and down the stairs in safety and comfort, free from pain or discomfort brought on by physical exertion.
What’s more, a modern stairlift will always ‘spot’ an obstruction left on the stairs and react to safeguard you.
Among many features, they have safety sensors fitted to the sides of the footrest and to the main body of the carriage itself.
If these sensors come into contact with an obstruction on the stairs or stairlift rail, they will automatically bring the stairlift to a gentle halt.
It will not continue to move in the direction of the obstruction, but can be moved the other way, away from it, using the paddle switches on the carriage arms, or the remote control.
Once the obstruction has been removed, the journey up or down the stairs can be resumed.
These sensors are an essential safety feature.
They deliver the peace of mind of knowing that if anything is inadvertently left on the stairs, from a discarded dog toy to a dropped sock, the stairlift will react accordingly.