E&J IC4 User Manual
Metro® IC4
Manual Wheelchair
Owner’s Manual
02002178 Revision B
©GF Health Products, Inc.
March 2006
Read this manual before
operating your wheelchair
Contents
I INTRODUCTION ............................................................................3
II IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ..........................................
III GETTING STARTED ....................................................................
IV HANDLING TIPS ..........................................................................9
V ADJUSTMENTS .........................................................................14
VI TRANSPORTING THE E&J METRO IC4 .....................................24
VII MAINTENANCE .......................................................................26
VIII TROUBLESHOOTING ..............................................................31
IX LIMITED WARRANTY ...............................................................33
X INDEX .......................................................................................35
5
8
2 02002178 Revision B, March 2006 • Metro IC4 Owner’s Manual
READ THIS MANUAL BEFORE OPERATING YOUR
WHEELCHAIR
I INTRODUCTION
Important safety, operating, and maintenance instructions that warrant your attention are included in this owner's manual. Read the
entire manual carefully before operating your new wheelchair, and
refer to it as often as necessary to help maintain good performance
standards.
Consult your healthcare professional and Graham-Field Health
Products dealer for assistance in developing and learning safe and
effective techniques for performing your daily activities according to
your individual physical abilities and needs, and to make certain that
your wheelchair is properly prescribed and adjusted for your use.
The safety precautions in this manual are general warnings intended
to be used only as basic guidelines. You may find it necessary to
develop your own methods for safely solving frequently encountered
challenges. Again, consult your professional medical advisors for
their recommendations about safety methods, and never hesitate to
ask for their assistance.
Your wheelchair should receive frequent, regularly scheduled maintenance, including an inspection of the mechanical parts, to ensure
proper operation. Some suggested inspection procedures, troubleshooting procedures, and adjustment procedures are included in this
manual. When it comes to service and repair, remember that your
Graham-Field Health Products dealer knows your wheelchair best.
All information and specifications in this manual are current at the
time of printing. However, because it is Graham-Field Health Products policy to continually improve the quality and reliability of all our
products, we reserve the right to make changes at any time without
notice.
02002178 Revision B, March 2006 • Metro IC4 Owner’s Manual 3
Thank you for choosing an Everest & Jennings® product. We at
Graham-Field Health Products wish to assure you of our continuing
commitment to provide innovation and quality in our products. The
Metro IC4 is a manual, folding, lightweight wheelchair, suitable for
frequent users who require a lightweight, portable wheelchair, fitted
to their anatomy, without the need of customization or alteration
to the center of gravity. The Metro IC4 is intended for indoor and/or
outdoor use.
The person performing adjustments on the Metro IC4 has the responsibility of making certain that the user can safely operate the wheelchair with the adjustments selected. This person must evaluate the
user's ability, weight, physical condition, the environment in which
the wheelchair will be used, and the terrain over which the wheelchair will travel. We recommend the use of anti-tippers at all times.
Graham-Field Health Products is not responsible for typographical
errors. Packaging, warranties and products are subject to change
without notice.
Please note the following special statements, used throughout this
manual, and their significance:
Note: Special information set off from the text.
▲
Caution: Damage to equipment is possible.
WARNING: Personal injury could occur.
4 02002178 Revision B, March 2006 • Metro IC4 Owner’s Manual
II IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS: ALWAYS FOLLOW THESE
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN USING YOUR WHEELCHAIR.
FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY TO YOU
OR OTHERS OR DAMAGE TO YOUR WHEELCHAIR.
Safety requires the constant attention of the wheelchair user and
the attendant. It is extremely important to learn and always use safe
methods of performing basic daily activities. Always consult your
healthcare professional to determine those methods most suitable for
your individual abilities.
Protect yourself and your wheelchair by having your Metro IC4
serviced regularly. Whenever any part of your Metro IC4 is not functioning properly, contact your Graham-Field Health Products dealer
immediately, as a hazardous situation could result, causing personal
injury or damage to your wheelchair. ONLY EXCELLENT CONDI-
TION IS ACCEPTABLE WHERE SAFETY IS CONCERNED. Periodic
inspection, adjustment, and replacement of worn parts will provide
many years of superb performance.
WARNINGS
WARNING: Metro IC4 maximum weight capacity is 250 lbs.
(113 kg).
WARNING: Do not operate this wheelchair on streets or
roadways.
WARNING: Do not operate this wheelchair on hilly or rough
terrain, sand, wet or icy surfaces, or surfaces
with impaired traction. Ensure that pathway is
clear of all obstacles.
WARNING: Do not turn wheelchair while going downhill, as
wheelchair could tip over.
02002178 Revision B, March 2006 • Metro IC4 Owner’s Manual 5
WARNING: Do not attempt inclines without anti-tippers
installed. Do not attempt any incline or decline
greater than six degrees (10% grade, or one foot
of rise or fall per ten feet of ramp length).
WARNING: This wheelchair does not offer seating or occu-
pant restraint equivalent to the seat provided in
a motor vehicle! To increase your safety while
traveling in a motor vehicle, always transfer to
the vehicle seat and use the restraint provided
by the vehicle manufacturer.
WARNING: Do not tie down or attach anything to the
wheels. This could cause tipping and possibly
result in injury or damage to the wheelchair.
WARNING: The footplates' lowest point should clear the
ground by at least 2-1/2 inches, to permit proper
clearance of potential obstruction.
WARNING: Doing a "wheelie" (tilting the wheelchair back-
ward until it reaches its balance point) is dangerous and could result in personal injury to the
user.
WARNING: Do not stand or step on the footplates while
transferring to or from your wheelchair. This
could cause the wheelchair to tip or may cause
personal injury or damage to your wheelchair.
WARNING: Always engage wheel locks before transferring,
using a wheelchair lift or using an elevator.
WARNING: Ensure that wheelchair is on a stable, level sur-
face and engage wheel locks before and during
transfer.
WARNING: Operate only with anti-tippers in place when
leaning or tipping.
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WARNING: Do not lean over the top of the wheelchair back.
This could cause the wheelchair to tip over.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of tipping before leaning or
reaching forward, sit back in the seat and rotate
casters fully toward front of wheelchair.
WARNING: Unauthorized modification or the use of non-
Everest & Jennings® replacement parts could
change the structure of the wheelchair, void
the warranty, and create a hazardous condition
resulting in serious personal injury.
WARNING: Do not lean on this wheelchair or use it as a
walker—these are practices which could result
in loss of balance and personal injury.
WARNING: Do not use your wheelchair on escalators.
WARNING: Wheel locks are not brakes. Do not use the
wheel locks to slow down your wheelchair, or
while the wheelchair is moving. Wheel locks are
only intended to keep the wheelchair in place
when it is at a complete stop.
WARNING: GF Health Products, Inc. specifically disclaims
responsibility for any personal injury or property
damage which may occur during any use which
does not comply with federal, state, or local laws
or ordinances.
02002178 Revision B, March 2006 • Metro IC4 Owner’s Manual 7
III GETTING STARTED
wheel lock
cross brace
frame
rear
wheel
caster wheel
footrest
arm release
footplate
extension
caster housing
caster fork
armpad
arm
seat
upholstery
back upholstery
push handle
handgrip
Please familiarize yourself with main components, identified in
Metro IC4 illustration below.
Designs and specifications are subject to change without notice.
8 02002178 Revision B, March 2006 • Metro IC4 Owner’s Manual
IV HANDLING TIPS
The Everest & Jennings® Metro IC4 has been designed and engineered to perform as a stable and well balanced unit when used for
its intended purpose. However, it is possible to tip the Metro IC4
over if it is used improperly. We urge you to learn the characteristics
of your wheelchair. It is most important to learn safe methods to
perform the daily activities basic to your lifestyle. Consult your medical professionals for assistance in developing the skills and proper
techniques to perform all activities safely.
BALANCE
Proper balance is the key to maintaining the stability of your wheelchair. Reaching, bending, and transferring to or from a wheelchair
will change the weight distribution and center of gravity of you and
your wheelchair. When performing such activities, do so as instructed in the following paragraphs to avoid tipping the wheelchair.
TRANSFER ACTIVITIES
WARNING: Always ensure that the wheelchair is on a stable,
level surface and engage wheel locks before
transfer.
WARNING: Do not step on the footplates; this could cause
the wheelchair to tip. Fold them up, and either
detach them, or swing them aside.
WARNING: There is a critical moment when there is little
or no seat platform beneath you. Take every
precaution to reduce this unsupported distance
before you attempt transfer.
Transferring into or out of a wheelchair is a very difficult maneuver.
Exercise extreme care when transferring without the aid of either an
attendant or a patient lift. Consult your physician, nurse, or physi-
02002178 Revision B, March 2006 • Metro IC4 Owner’s Manual 9
cal therapist for assistance in developing your individual technique.
Make sure that the wheelchair is stabilized, and will not move or
slide during the transfer. Take extra precaution to prevent tipping.
Use good body mechanics to prevent personal injury.
REACHING / BENDING
WARNING: Always turn the casters frontward to provide sta-
bility while reaching. If in doubt, ask for assistance or use a device that will extend your reach
without requiring you to shift your weight.
Although it is not recommended, you may find it occasionally necessary to lean or reach from your wheelchair. Consult with your healthcare professional for assistance in developing your personal safe
reaching or moving techniques suited to your ability and restrictions.
Forward or sideward
WARNING: Do not attempt to reach objects if you are
required to move forward in the seat. Do not
attempt to retrieve objects from the floor if you
must reach down between your knees. Do not
shift your weight in the direction that you are
reaching and/or bending; this could cause the
wheelchair to tip.
1. Maneuver the wheelchair as close as possible to the object you
wish to reach.
2. Rotate both casters fully forward: Go forward, and then back the
wheelchair toward the object to swing the casters fully forward.
3. Engage both wheel locks.
4. Ensure that the casters are rotated fully forward before reaching. If not, repeat step 2.
10 02002178 Revision B, March 2006 • Metro IC4 Owner’s Manual
Backward
WARNING: Do not engage the wheel locks while reaching or
bending backward. Should your weight suddenly
shift accidentally, it is better to roll in that direction than to tip over.
WARNING: Do not lean over the back upholstery; this could
cause the wheelchair to tip.
1. Maneuver the wheelchair as close as possible to the object; the
rear wheels will limit how close you can get.
2. Rotate both casters fully forward: Go forward, and then back the
wheelchair toward the object to swing the casters fully forward.
3. Reach only as far as your arm will extend without changing
your sitting position. If in doubt, reposition the wheelchair or
ask for assistance.
02002178 Revision B, March 2006 • Metro IC4 Owner’s Manual 11
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