Please be careful out there!

[SCI-Nurse]

I just learned today that a dear friend and former patient (C4 complete) died yesterday after he let his power chair caster go over the edge of the curb and overturning his chair while cruising around his neighborhood. His wife found him and called paramedics, but he had a significant brain bleed that was not surgically controllable and he died about 12 hours later. I am devastated, and his wife and kids are all in shock.

He was the greatest guy and was a wiz at adaptive technology. He was one of the founders of our local PVA RC car club and helped design the hands-free controls for this. He was a Navy Veteran and a member of our PVA chapter board. I will miss him.

Be careful, please, when driving your chairs (manual or power) on sidewalks. Try to not get too close to the edge of the curb if possible.

(KLD)

[sriv]

May he rest in peace. Condolences to his family.

That is absolutely terrifying and one of my legitimate nightmares. One time I had hit a vehicle stopper without noticing; I was super lucky that my chair self corrected, but it was really scary.

I completely agree. Please be careful!

[Bonnette]

KLD, I am so sorry. What a dreadful loss for you and his loved ones. Your word of caution is spot-on. Even non-power devices can get away from people, lose their brakes, tip over with just a slight bump in the road.

[cass]

sorry to hear. but i have to ask, why is this in life when my friend's death was moved? never mind.

[SCI-Nurse]

I did not mention his name, and he was not a member of CC. (KLD)

[ChesBay]

Tragic, amazing how fast things can happen.
Condolences to you and your friend’s family.

[McDuff]

RIP good guy.

Our mailbox is on the other side of the road, one time years back, I rolled my front casters of manual chair off the edge of our country street. I was stuck, couldn't go forward cuz the mailbox and post were there, couldn't back up because the lip was too much and casters were wedged against blacktop. Didn't have my phone on me, "just going to the mailbox what could go wrong?", it was the middle of the day, nobody around. I was stuck 10 minutes or more, felt like an hour, finally a car came down our little used street. I furiously waved my arms and they stopped and helped pull me back out of it.

I always have my phone on me now, and go parallel with the mailbox now.

[HACKNSACK44]

So sad.. RIP

[WheelieWhiz]

Very sorry to hear about your friend, KLD. Agree with others that have given words of caution. Even if you can handle your chair extremely well, there could always be something.
Was out on a walk once and didn't see how deep a lip in the sidewalk was and very nearly faceplafaceplanted. Fortunately my mom caught me before anything serious happened, but I was pretty shaken.

[vjls]

it don/t take much so sorry about your friend and his wife and kids for their loss

[pfcs49]

Friday I went to my home group AA meeting, the one I've been attending since before my injury in 95.
It's not accessible. I have to wheelie up two steps going in (the middle is more like a little patio).
Around 3 years ago, there appeared a "door-stop?" across the opening, at least 3/4 by 3/4". perhaps an inch.
Ever since, exiting has been a PITA! It's hard to get both wheels to climb the impediment, and then to balance well on that narrow perch.
Releasing and dropping down has been a problem once the cleat was there.
This Friday my good luck ended! Quick math: prolly make 50 meeting a year over almost 28 years? 1400 times.
One fail! Whacked the hell out of my scull! (elbow as well) Heard the resonance of a rotten gourd on impact Drove home carefully, wondering when the stroke might manifest, then I read the above.

Gotta go speak to the minister.
Time to slow down?

[SCI-Nurse]

I hope the church is willing to ramp or otherwise remedy this problem, rather than open themselves up to an injury liability suit. AA should come into the 21st century and require full and safe access for it's meeting sites too. (KLD)

[triumph]

Thank you for posting this! Please bring this to the attention of the minister. I think it's also important to bring up in your meeting. Why not let folks know what you go through to attend meetings? The meetings need to change location to totally barrier-free site, or remodel the path you take to enter the building. You will be helping others avoid injury too.

[SCI-Nurse]

Always wear a seatbelt. It can prevent some injuries to brain/upper spine in any moving vehicle-WC, car, boat, lawnmower/tractor etc… even if just an added safety belt. CWO

[Gearhead]

Seat belts can be a good thing in the right environment & depending on the abilities of the crip. Not disagreeing about that. However, a friend of mine's dad, wearing a seat belt, turned his powerchair over out side (country land). He suffocated to death before he was found.

There's really no winning in some cases. Planet alignment thing.

[SCI-Nurse]

He was wearing a seatbelt. That assures that the chair will come with you (and crush you) as it did my friend. For some, a seatbelt also interferes with doing good and frequent weight shifts. (KLD)

[vjls]

so glad you weren/t hurt worse

[pfcs49]

I hope the church is willing to ramp or otherwise remedy this problem, rather than open themselves up to an injury liability suit. AA should come into the 21st century and require full and safe access for it's meeting sites too. (KLD)

I will be talking to the reverend about removing the cleat across the opening which IMO is not to code/illegal. The sanctuary is accessible but getting in and out that way is a PITA for all concerned.

AA is a very unique outfit that has survived without orthodox leaders for a very long time!
When the church sent me a form (I'm the secretary) they wanted filled out by all groups using the facilities, it included a proof of 1M$ liability policy.
I checked with my insurance agent (who specializes in commercial accounts). The expense would far exceed our income. We are 15-20 once weekly who mostly throw a buck in the basket)
I phoned NJ intergroup, expecting that they had found a group carrier that was economical. Their response was informative:
You are on your own!
Other groups are reporting similar problems.
Remember the 12 Traditions: 4/Each group should be autonomous, except as affecting other groups or AA as a whole
7/Every AA group ought to be fully self-supporting declining outside contribution.

Not what I really wanted to hear! But AA is a community that sponsors sobriety only!(and the inherent spiritual growth)
Other 12 traditions: there are no leaders, only trusted servants-they do not govern;
Each group has only one primary purpose-to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers;
AA as such should remain forever non-professional...;
AA, as such shall never be organized but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve;
AA has no opinions on outside issues...; Our public relations policy is based on attraction, not promotion, AND
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to put principles before personality.

Pretty amazing stuff in this 21st century world!
And the 3rd and most important tradition: The ONLY requirement for AA membership is the desire to stop drinking!
There are no rules, only suggestions
There are no revered leaders, only helpers
THERE ARE NO RULES, only suggestions!
Anonymity is our foundation.
How can such an un-regulated group of drunks survive!!?
What an interesting tribe!
And it's still around and it WORKS, all that's required is the key of willingness!

I explained to the pastor that we were on our own (intergroup sent an email I printed up) and that if we actually could pay the insurance, we couldn't pay rent ($70/month). That because we were in no way incorporated, we couldn't be named on a policy; that no member would be or should be willing to take on that assignment That we had used this facility for 50 years with no problems. That we were at their mercy!

The church board met and approved our usage with no insurance.
Sometimes spiritual principles inform decisions. I am responsible for my choices; there are other meetings that are more accessible but this is my home! If I get to the point that I'm unsteady doing the two steps, I'll fix the problem! But not at the church's considerable expense. I am responsible. (and I think religious groups should pay taxes-don't get confused who I am! Just when VJS was thinking I may be rehabilitatable!

[triumph]

Yes, AA is a very interesting and important organization. I feel the church needs to make that entrance accessible, not for you, but for any visitors with physical issues or not. There are other folks who may consider a lawsuit if they are injured, so the church would be protecting itself.
In addition, an accessible entrance would be a welcoming sign to any future wheeler who is totally unable to handle the entrance like you do. For instance: a person in a power wheelchair with quadriplegia, who seeks an AA meeting place. Perhaps the Reverend is already working on a plan.

[August West]

Sorry to hear this. We have so much more risk without realizing how bad that risk actually is.

I was approaching my driveway, I double tapped my smartwatch to shut off my Smart Drive. But it didn't go off. My front caster hit the curb and locked up the chair. I fell out and fractured my knee. I cannot feel it so I did not know it was fractured. I suppose that the fracture worsened over time and then one day it got bad enough to break. Several months later, I woke up to find my entire leg swollen. I went to the ER. They misdiagnosed it as cellulitis (no X-ray was performed) and sent me home with antibiotics. After finishing the antibiotics, I returned to the ER because it was still swollen. They admitted me to administer IV antibiotics but the leg was still swollen. My primary care doctor sent me to an orthopedic doctor who performed and X-ray and saw it was broken. I am now wearing a brace and the leg is no longer swollen. But because so much time passed w/o the brace, the tibia is healing out of alignment. They say that a knee replacement is indicated. But am not a good candidate for it? Because I can't feel it, I would not realize if there was problem and it could actually get worse. I don't know what to do other than continue to wear the brace and hope it's good enough. I now shut off my Smart Drive much in advance just to give myself time to respond in case it doesn't shut off.

Definitely be careful!

[SCI-Nurse]

We always got lower extremity Xrays if anyone fell from their chair onto their hip or knee, due to the high rate of osteoporosis in the SCI/D population. (KLD)

[Gearhead]

My scenario was the opposite of August's. A few years ago in my old (but tricked out) C500S, hot summer short pants & T-shirt, in the road, I topped a hill, made a 90 degree left turn to go down the other side of the hill & into town. As soon as I started down I went full joystick forward (need for speed). When I did that my hand hit the mode button (Pilot+ control) which fully hard locked the brakes. Screech on two right wheels to the left then screech on two to the right. I was thrown about 6' from the chair in the left lane just below the crest of the hill. Chair was up right in right lane (no strip road). Fear of a car coming over the steep hill crest & seeing the flag on my chair & with no vision of me, I would be ran over. I weeny dog rolled on the hot coarse asphalt to get in front of the chair. At least I wouldn't get pinned under a car. A truck topped the hill, I heard his tires braking hard. He said he first saw the flag so slowed, then saw the chair. Unable to get me up, he called 911. Paramedics got me back in chair & asked a dozen times if I was hurt. I guess elbows, knees, & shins road rash had them concerned. Knot on my head had me wonder as well. Stubborn (dumbass), I told them "nothing is gonna stop me". I went into town, got my hair buzzed. Had to tell the barber my story as she seemed concerned about my fresh wounds. Heading home, I stopped by the bike shop to show off my adventure marks. If I had been wearing a seat belt, I have no doubt my head would have been slammed to the ground due to the chair fast flipping on it's side. Getting tossed removed 200 lbs from the chair that was sure to go over if I'd stayed in it.

My chopper mirror mount on the end of left arm rest worked as planned. Instead of gouging my ribs when ejected, it came straight up & out of it's mount. Later I made a hard plastic flap to cover the mode button, hoping it won't happen again. Also, the two steep down hills in my routes, I take with caution now. I still enjoy hearing my flag flap at top speed (only 8 MPH) but only in safe areas.

Getting slammed will happen eventually. Call me Lucky. I'm considering one of my old motorcycle helmets. At the least a bicycle helmet. Be careful out there.