The Positive Lock Indicator (PLI) is a patented feature that gives the operator a clear visual indication that the fitting is locked into the anchorage.

This will be a running change with no lapse in inventory. Beginning February 2017, all AL700 and FF600 Series of Retractors will now feature the PLI (the PLI was already included on the TITAN800).

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your Regional Manager or our Customer Satisfaction team at 866-787-3565.

Thank you for being a valued customer.

The post Product Update – Retractor PLI appeared first on Sure-Lok.

 “…We went to Christ the Redeemer, which is the icon of Rio, and found you can’t actually get up the top unless you can get out of your wheelchair and use an escalator.”

Where Does the Problem Lie?

This incident highlights a list of questions that are being examined by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Most notably, is the number of passengers with disabilities who are being denied transportation service increasing? As part of the policy and requirements stipulated by the FTA’s own Office of Civil Rights (TCR), which monitors the implementation of and compliance with ADA transportation regulations, complaints were investigated and reviews were conducted. It was found that most issues of trip denial or refusal were caused by wheelchair securement loops that are non-standard and the use of other mobility aids that do not meet the ADA definition of “common wheelchair.”

The organization has an excellent set of safety regulations in place known as WC18 standards for wheelchair tie-down and occupant restraint systems (WTORS). Stipulated by the Rehabilitation Engineering Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA), high quality and standardized wheelchair securement loops, restraints and other products are available, such as the WC18 compliant belts and restraints. It is surprising that the need for standard fixtures and fittings had not risen earlier. In addition to the necessity for common design features in both wheelchairs and wheelchair securement loops, surveys have expressed a need for common markings indicating places on the wheelchair where securing straps and hooks can be affixed.

Advocates are hopeful that initiatives to educate the community about common wheelchair usage, as well as the implementation and enforcement of an inclusive boarding policy that does not discriminate between standard and non-standard devices will leave role models such as Hannah Cockroft feeling encouraged about the opportunities available for people with disabilities.

The post Device of the Hour: Standardized Wheelchair Securement Loops appeared first on Sure-Lok.

Points to Keep in Mind While Transporting Children Using Wheelchairs

School systems are responsible for making sure that children with special needs are safely transported on all forms of federally approved transportation provided by the school system. The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations (FMVSS) 222 (School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection) have established safety requirements for the interior of school buses, including the specifications for school bus restraint systems used to secure child wheelchair users.

Every school bus manufactured since January 1994 has forward facing systems, meaning that the wheelchair faces forward when secured. This greatly increases the likelihood of survival in the event of a frontal crash. Tests show that side facing wheelchairs are unstable and often collapse. According to the FMVSS 222 regulations, a seven-point system must be used: four points to secure the wheelchair and three points to secure the child. The shoulder belt for securing the child must be attached to the school bus and the lap belt can be attached to either the four-point system or to the school bus.

The following checklist should be referenced when using school bus restraints for wheelchairs.

1. The wheelchair is forward-facing and centered on the anchorage.
2. Brakes are set and the power is switched off.
3. The wheelchair is anchored at four points using the manufacturer’s instructions.
4. The straps are attached properly
5. The straps should be as close to a 45-degree angle as possible, and no more than 60 degrees.
6. The straps should not be attached to the wheels or to any detachable part of the wheelchair.
7. The straps should not bend around any object, or be close to any sharp objects or edges.

The wheelchair school bus restraints should be a well-tested product that meets the FMVSS 222 and other national standards and regulations.

The post School Bus Restraints Ensure Safety of Children Using Wheelchairs appeared first on Sure-Lok.

Here are the few career opportunities ideal for people with mobility impairment.

Accounting

Accounting plays a major role in the success of any business. This particular area of expertise requires a flair for financial matters. Working predominantly from a desk, minimal movement is required. Many companies have an in-house accounting department, but there are also accounting firms that offer their services to a variety of clients within different industries. Ongoing improvements to wheelchair safety securement have made it easier for wheelchair users to commute to work using public or private transportation.

Teaching

According to statistics published on the Job Accommodation Network, some 4 million teachers were employed in the preschool to secondary school setup in the US in 2014. An additional 1.3 million professionals taught in post-secondary settings. Teaching is a vast and ever-growing field. More importantly, it is a fulfilling career path for those who are passionate about nurturing and inspiring young minds. Allowing young, impressionable individuals to see their teacher overcome daily adversities will help them to be more empathetic and understanding towards others.

Writing

In its most basic form, a writer’s role is to communicate to readers through written word. With the rising demand for online content, a whole new arena for people withe a talent for written expression has become available. The best part about this profession? It affords the luxury of being self-employed by freelancing or serving as a consultant, resulting in more flexibility with time and scheduling. The focus areas and subject matters limitless, from blogs to advertising content to social media posting, and everything in between.

More people in various fields are being trained with the latest and most effective wheelchair safety training programs. This is making life safer for people with physical disabilities. Mobility riders can now consider more options for their professional and personal lives that may not have been previously available.

The post Top Jobs for Wheelchair Users appeared first on Sure-Lok.

Did you know that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that securement systems be made available on buses for people with limited mobility, such that an occupied wheelchair or mobility aid cannot move more than two inches in any direction under normal vehicle operating conditions? The rules of the ADA require buses to have at least two spots fixed for wheelchairs according to matching eligibility criteria.

Transportation is undoubtedly one of the greatest concerns for those with limited mobility. Both fixed route public transport and para-transit vehicles make it easier for people with special transportation needs to travel from one place to another. However, the chance of injury to a person with a disability is 45% higher than individuals without mobility impairment in case of a crash.

Precautions to be Taken While Traveling

The advantage with para-transit is that it is a door-to-door service for people with disabilities, which avoids the potential inconvenience of having to wait at a bus-stop to board a standard mass transit bus. Also, para-transit vehicles are typically constructed to conform to the needs of people with disabilities, keeping in mind specific safety guidelines and precautions. In order to meet ADA standards, para-transit vehicles should include a recommended wheelchair securement, such as the TITAN800. These types of securement provide enhanced safety to wheelchair and scooter passengers, as well as other travelers within the vehicle.

These wheelchair securement systems typically include belts and metal retractors. Either two or four belts are used to secure the wheelchair to the floor tracks of the vehicle. The metal retractor is fixed onto the floor tracks of the vehicle and the hook is attached to the wheelchair with retractable webbing.

The mobility rider can be further secured with an occupant restraint system, which includes one diagonal belt running through the shoulder and another around the pelvic bone. Anyone with ambulatory restrictions must wear these belts while traveling unless a doctor advises against it due to a pre-determined medical condition.

The para-transit wheelchair securement not only minimizes injury during a crash but also prevents injuries during normal vehicle movement, like sudden stops or sharp turns.

Contact us to learn more about the TITAN800, tested and proven to be WC18 compliant and compatible with WC19 wheelchairs.

The post How Para-transit Wheelchair Securement Helps Overcome Transportation Challenges appeared first on Sure-Lok.

While you cannot always avoid accidents, you do have the ability to control whether or not you wear a seat belt. This is essential, regardless of your position within a vehicle. Rear seat passengers often have a false sense of security, and avoid buckling up, thinking they are less prone to fatal injuries than those riding in the front seats. This is a major fallacy. In the case of an accident, the passenger riding in the back can collide with a person in the front seat, resulting in severe head injury to both. The importance of using the occupant restraint system cannot be overstated.

According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wearing a seat belt can reduce injury and death rates by as much as 50%. The possibility of a passenger being ejected from the car in an accident is lowered significantly to just 1% for those wearing their safety belt. This is the reason most vehicles have visual displays, sound alerts or both to remind passengers to buckle up. And, of course, it’s the law.

Occupant Restraint System for the Physically Challenged

For mobility riders, additional or enhanced protection may be required for a car journey. This is because even under normal circumstances, persons with special needs are at a greater risk of injury when the vehicle starts, stops, turns or when the brakes are suddenly applied.

If possible, mobility riders may be transferred into a seat within the vehicle, but this is not always an option. Fortunately, there are highly specialized and reliable occupant restraint systems available, which should be used regardless of journey length — whether a short drive to the supermarket or a long venture for a holiday.

Sure-Lok’s occupant restraint system offers a host of options, enabling you to choose products that are best suited for the mobility rider’s specific needs, as well as the layout of the vehicle. There are three types of restraints, including lap belts, shoulder belts and integrated combination belts. All of which have been qualified under different impact test criteria and adhere to the prescribed regulations, wherever applicable.

What to Keep in Mind?

If the mobility rider cannot be shifted to a seat within the vehicle, a standard occupant restraint system will not be sufficient. In such cases, wheelchair securements, including retractors and restraints should be used for complete safety.

Technological advancements have greatly increased the level of protection offered by occupant restraint systems in case of a crash. Be diligent in taking all proper precautionary measures to safeguard yourself and loved ones.

Contact us to learn more about wheelchair securement products, including the TITAN800.

The post A Reliable Occupant Restraint System Can Save Lives appeared first on Sure-Lok.

Most non-standard OMNI L-Track will ship from our Florida facility, while standard OMNI L-Track will continue to ship from the Sure-Lok location in Pennsylvania. Nothing will change in the way you order your track. This is an internal, logistical change and we wanted to keep you informed.

If you have any questions or would like to place an order, please contact Customer Service at 1-866-SURE-LOK.

We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you.

The post Product Advisory – L-Track appeared first on Sure-Lok.

Read the full article here.

The post TITAN800 Featured in School Bus Fleet Magazine appeared first on Sure-Lok.

With safety as the number one priority in wheelchair transportation, the Rehabilitation Engineering Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) updated the WC18 standards for wheelchair tie-down and occupant restraint systems (WTORS) which will take effect in December 2015.

Currently, WC18 requires that WTORS withstand a sled impact test using a 30mph/20g crash pulse, a 187 lb. surrogate wheelchair and a 170 lb. midsize adult male crash-test dummy where the lap belt is anchored to the vehicle. Since new WC19 standards now require the availability of an optional wheelchair–anchored lap belt to hold the occupant into place, RESNA had to address the higher wheelchair forces that would be transmitted to the tiedown/securement systems when a person riding in a wheelchair is using that lap belt. As a result, RESNA developed the new WC18 standard requiring that WTORS must also be able to withstand the increased forces generated in a second impact test, in which the 170 lb. crash-test dummy is restrained by a lap belt that is anchored to the surrogate wheelchair rather than to the vehicle itself.

“Manufacturers of wheelchair and occupant restraint systems and those responsible for transporting people dependent on wheelchairs are planning now for the new safety regulations,” said Bob Joseph, VP of Business Development for Q’Straint, a global leader in developing innovative solutions for wheelchair passenger travel. “One way to ensure compliance with the new WC18 standards by the December 2015 deadline is to consider equipment upgrades to transportation fleets and personal mobility vehicles in advance.”

Q’Straint has embraced the new WC18 standards by developing and offering the QRT-360, the first retractor to meet the requirements, which demonstrates the company’s increasing commitment to the safety of travelers seated in wheelchairs. The QRT-360 is the first 4-point, heavy duty, fully automatic retractable tie-down system designed, engineered and built to perform successfully in the required 30mph frontal crash when a wheelchair passenger is traveling in a motor vehicle and is using the optional lap belt as discussed above. It also offers a shortened retractor footprint that allows for more flexibility in vehicle anchor-point locations to better accommodate large wheelchairs. The revolutionary new product is therefore compatible with the widest variety of wheelchairs and is an acceptable solution to wheelchair securement in all types of motor vehicles.

In addition, the self-tensioning tie-down system automatically tightens the straps during small wheelchair movements that occur during travel to eliminate slack. The belts continue to tighten during low-g vehicle accelerations, thereby further reducing the potential for wheelchair movement in the event of a collision. The webbing used in this system has also been redesigned and is twice as strong as the material used with other wheelchair and occupant restraint systems.
“The benefits of the new WC18 standards address not only improved passenger safety, but also offer a more efficient and independent securement process,” adds Joseph. “All industry transit providers and those with private vehicles should begin their preparations for complying and update themselves on the new standards and the products that meet these standards.”

As background, WC19 was the first industry standard in the U.S. for wheelchair manufacturers to address the design and performance of wheelchairs used as seats in motor vehicles. WC18 governs the systems used to safely secure the wheelchairs within the personal or commercial vehicle.

The post WC18 at a Glance appeared first on Sure-Lok.

Bethlehem, Pa., February 20, 2015 – Sure-Lok International, LLC. has introduced the Titan800, a new retractor to the existing TITAN product line. The Titan800 retractor system is designed to meet the latest WC18 industry regulations, which take effect December 2015.

“To fully secure wheelchair passengers in seconds, you have to have a perfect system from the floor up,” said Q’Straint/Sure-Lok VP of Business Development Robert Joseph. “The Titan800 features innovative improvements that take performance and durability to a new level.”

While completely redesigned, the retractor will have familiar highlights including:

• An auto-tensioning feature that helps webbing automatically retract into the housing and stay off the floor, keeping it cleaner and increasing product lifespan.
• A Positive Locking Indicator (PLI) for L Track applications that gives operators quick visual confirmation that the retractor fitting is safely locked into the vehicle anchor system.
• A J-hook configuration that makes it easy to swiftly secure a wheelchair in seconds — with only one hand — and keeps webbing flat and untwisted when properly attached to the wheelchair.

According to Joseph, when used with a complete Sure-Lok System comprised of wheelchair tie-downs, occupant restraint system (including lap and shoulder belt), and track and anchorages, the Titan800 easily meets the requirements of the RESNA WC18 standard and is compatible with WC19 wheelchairs. WC18 governs the systems used to safely secure wheelchairs within personal or commercial vehicles. The new standard, coming December 2015, improves passenger safety and establishes a more efficient and independent securement process.

The post TITAN800 Press Release appeared first on Sure-Lok.