How do you stay dry in a wheelchair

[Karalynn]

when it rains? A poncho won't cut it I'm sure. We tried last trip when dd was in a stroller so we just kind of draped extra poncho over it, but we kept running the plastic over with the wheels as it kept slipping around. I was thinking of somehow rigging a large golf umbrella to the back, but her legs would still get wet. Then I though, hmmmm would I get funny looks if we used a beach umbrella? jk, I wouldn't really do that, but it sounds funny doesn't it?

 

[BillSears]

I use a poncho. Draped right it works fine.

 

[Bete]

If you are using the adult size that could be the issue. Take a little more time and tuck it in all the right places. Also, a second poncho covering the wheelchair would give you added protection, as well. If she's in between adult and child for poncho size you may have to cut an adult one to fit her better. Find a better way to secure it like a bungee cord or velcro if you are having trouble with slipping. Some have luck using clear, 55 gallon garbage can liners; you can cut out a head and arm openings. Get a hooded raincoat for her to wear and even rain boots. Bring changes of clothes including socks if it doesn't quite work so well for you. You can always take the extra clothes off. Bring some towels, too. Bring a back pack or similar for it all.

We try to visit Disney World when there's less chance of rain; so, we stay away from hurricane season, as an example. We listen to weather forecasts before we go to the park each day. When it's a 40 percent chance or higher probability we will observe the clouds rather closely that day in the parks. Believe it or not we always look at the sky at Disney World. It seems many times it starts to get darker just before it rains there. Also, a little more breezy and a little cooler seems to be big clues for rain to start there. When we see the signs we start heading for cover. There are shows and exhibits to see and stay safe from the rain. It's a good time to have a meal and take a potty break. There are a few times we are fooled by the signals, but not too often. I feel avoidance is the best way not to get wet. Always know where you can seek shelter when you make a stop anywhere if you are outside like with a parade. Even a gift shop or restroom will work. Be very aware of your surroundings.

 

[Karalynn]

BillSears......Love the pic, thanks!!! Maybe now that we are using her wheelchair it will be better than trying to cover the stroller.

Bete......Great advice as well, thank you!! I like the idea of the rain boots. I think looking at Bill's picture, we would use an adult size poncho and maybe cut the length if need be like you suggested.

 

[iuki]

I use a poncho. Draped right it works fine.

I do the same thing with my ECV - putting the poncho over the back of the seat and covering the front basket. I keep my right hand under the poncho, on the controls, and my left hand holding the poncho down in front, over the basket (next time I'm taking a clothes pin to hold it down). WORKS GREAT!

iuki

 

[bookwormde]

A little trimming and duct tape can help with the running it over issue. Having a seperate drape and worn poncho helps, that way you only have to open the drape enough to get your child out. I would be careful with a big umbrella on a stroller since often with rain comes high winds and there could be a stability issue.

bookwormde

 

[Cheshire Figment]

An open umbrella with a wheelchair or ECV is dangerous. Not only is there a stability issue, but it will often be at eye level for many people walking nearby.

 

[Karalynn]

I would be careful with a big umbrella on a stroller since often with rain comes high winds and there could be a stability issue.

bookwormde

Hmmm, never thought of that! She is now in a wheelchair, but I certainly wouldn't want her tipping that or the umbrella taking off into anyone!! We will stick with the Ponchos and maybe practice around here first.


Thanks all for the advice!

 

[needtogomore]

An open umbrella with a wheelchair or ECV is dangerous. Not only is there a stability issue, but it will often be at eye level for many people walking nearby.

their at eye level anyway, so how does that make it any more dangerous.

 

[Twende]

Bill, you are incredible.
Thank you for going to the bother of giving us all a visual!

 

[kaytieeldr]

their at eye level anyway, so how does that make it any more dangerous.

An umbrella in a place as crowded as Walt Disney World, held by anyone, can be hazardous to anybody else due to variances in heights among persons combined with the points on the umbrella.

 

[cm8]

An umbrella in a place as crowded as Walt Disney World, held by anyone, can be hazardous to anybody else due to variances in heights among persons combined with the points on the umbrella.

do you have any PROOF J/k, I know what you mean

 

[Capt. Barbosa]

We used a poncho for DW in her Wheelchair

it was OK for her but I was pushing her through the ankle deep MK downpour I was getting wetter from the wheel spray LOL.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

How do you stay dry in a wheelchair when it rains?

I have a custom cape made especially for wheelchair users. It sort of works but not so well in Florida. In the high humidity in Florida I perspire underneath the cape. When it rains the outside of my cape gets colder than the inside. My persperation then condenses on the inside of the cape and I get almost as wet as if I wasn't using one.

Andrew

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

An open umbrella with a wheelchair or ECV is dangerous. Not only is there a stability issue, but it will often be at eye level for many people walking nearby.

Don't agree with it being a safety issue. It can be, but that doesn't mean it is. It all comes down to the combination of the person, their abilities, the aid they use, the umbrella used, how crowded the area is etc. etc.

For instance a person that isn't used to using an ECV, rents one and then uses a huge umbrella, on NewYears Eve in MK, perhaps also having some muscle strength problems; huge risk of ouch. Taking away 1 hand from mastering an aid they aren't familiar with, that -depending on the type- already is proun to tipping over, is at eyelevel heigth for many folks, huge umbrella meaning high chance of not being able to oversee all of the area covered etc. Accident waiting to happen.

But does that make it always an accident waiting to happen? Do not agree.

I am a powerchair user, know my chair inside and out. Kinda know the disney crowd also by now and their 'let's jump in front' and 'the disney wow, stop dead in your tracks'. My chair is a high one. I use a small umbrella that basically means I can keep my torso and backrest on the bodyside dry. If I aim just right, I can even keep most of my seatpillow dry, but don't bother with that really as I've always got more covers with me. (living in rainy country makes you prepared). I can only use one arm for mastering my chair to begin with, so using my other arm for something doesn't take away from that. My umbrella has to cover my headrest to keep me dry. The top of that headrest in combo with umbrella now means the umbrella is at the same heigth of the average male. Read; as far as height goes I'm in there with all the other walking umbrella female users. My umbrella doesn't stick out of the chair. Folks will actually first hit my wheels, footrest (ouch for their shins) or side of the chair. No risk of poking any eyes unless you do really really weird things.

So many folks, so many abilities, so many aids, so many factors that in total will make up the picture that in the end results in it being safe or not.



As for the opening question; mostly answered that one. I use a pocket umbrella, as it keeps my head, torso and backrest (side I lean against) dry. I hate using a ponso or raingear. Reminds me too much of all of those days riding a bike to school, 10 miles to and fro, getting rained out about 60% of the time having the lovely choice of being wet from rain or from sweat of the rain gear. Never mind how 'good' a quality they are or not. I'ld rather have a little wet lower leg. I'll dry that off, put on a new sleeve on my footpillow, dry of my teva slippers, if need be put on a new seatcover as my chair only has cotton on it (skin can't deal with any other fabrics like those that are not absorbing fluids). I could also change my backrest sleeve, but that's more work so don't really like it. Besides, I don't like a wet head or torso and don't mind holding a small lightweight umbrella since my chair actually helps me keep it up so it doesn't cost me any real strength.

In Florida I cover my joystick up with a raincap for the hair. Just a making sure the "it can't happen, but does happen" doesn't happen while I'm on a trip with the rain somehow causing a short circuit and me being stuck. It shouldn't be possible to begin with and at home I NEVER cover it up. It gets loads of rain, including those pour downs, yet still I find myself covering it up in Florida as if to say "I'm not going to jinx myself any more than need be". I think Animal doesn't like it though. I've got an Animal (Muppets) antennatopper as my joystick. After that raincap he looks like he's had a nice clean old-ladies haircut. He seems to look a lot grumpier at those moments. Even gets comments from little kids he looks weird like that. Sure, when rained on he looks like a drowned cat but he can work that look like nobody can.

 

[SueM in MN]

We have held a regular size umbrella over DD's wheelchair while we pushed it, but using an umbrella doesn't work well. If the person pushing the wheelchair is holding it, it's hard to push the wheelchair.
If the person can propel their own wheelchair, someone standing next to them and holding an umbrella doesn't work well - both are going at different speeds and it's hard to stay close enough to the wheelchair and hold the umbrella (plus it is hard to cover both the user of the wheelchair and the holder of the umbrella).

And, I don't have proof that the umbrella can poke others, but I can tell you from personal experience trying to use one that it does come very close to poking other people. Because of the rain, a lot of people walk along with their heads down and could run into the umbrella without seeing it.

Now, for what we did.
We use one of the WDW ponchos for DD's wheelchair. She can't propel her wheelchair well enough to move around effectively at WDW, so we do push her. We put the hood of the poncho over her head and the poncho over her and her wheelchair, similar to the picture that BillSears posted.
The WDW ponchos have snaps along the sides to hold them shut. The snaps are spaced about 6 inches apart and we put the push handles of the wheelchair thru the first hole (actually the armhole) instead of putting DD's arms thru it.
We unsnap one of the further down snaps on each side to put DD's arm thru that. Besides allowing her to put her arms out, doing that also helps to hold the bottom of the poncho up so it doesn't drag.

I would not use duct tape or anything like that to seal the poncho because it would make the poncho too hard to remove. You will need to take the poncho off to transfer to rides (as Andrew pointed out, it also gets warm under the poncho).
We carry a plastic bag to put the wet poncho in when we remove it. If you fold it carefully, you can keep the wet sides together and keep them from touching the dry parts of the poncho.

 

[Bete]

They make them in kid sizes. You'll still have to have other protection with it, but I could see how this would help. The only problem would be what to do with it when not in use.

I like Sue M's idea on snap on ponchos; I could see that feauture being useful.

I would even consider a two piece. Maybe, use a poncho with a garbage bag skirt to protect the legs. I think velcro with adhesive backing would make this not too hard to use.

 

[NotUrsula]

My mom used to use a poncho as Bill has illustrated, and used a few binder clips to keep it clear of the wheels.

Best footwear for both the wheelchair user and the "propulsion" person is something that can get wet and just wipe off; either rainboots or sport sandals that don't absorb water. (Probably not Crocs for the one pushing; not enough traction on them.)

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Best footwear for both the wheelchair user and the "propulsion" person is something that can get wet and just wipe off; either rainboots or sport sandals that don't absorb water. (Probably not Crocs for the one pushing; not enough traction on them.)

For this trip, I bought myself some Teva sandals. As long as you take the types that are advertised as "water sports", you can dry them in no time. I've got the kayenta myself (wanted it to look OK also ), and just dry them off after a rainshower and on my way I go again. Maybe it's a tip for those who're going during hotter times and still want a more open footwear.

Don't know about the leather ones though, can imagine the leather parts might take a bit longer to dry. Didn't take those myself as I didn't like the leather colours.

 

[pampam]

I'm not sure if the person in the wc will be propelling it. I push DD's wc. I wear a poncho. If it's a heavy rain, or all day kind on rain, Dd wears a poncho too. I've never had a problem with getting it caught in the wc- I guess I tuck it in pretty good. However, as some have posted it can get sweaty under the poncho. We also have a clear plastic bubble umbrella we use. She holds it, can see through it and it isn't as hot as a poncho. I can see through it to steer through the crowds. It's a childs size, so it won't poke people. (I don't think a larger one would either, because of the shape.) We got it in Walmart.