Looking for ideas to waterproof wheelchair seat

[pinkmintz]

My daughter and I are traveling to WDW in December and I am looking for ideas that I could use to make her wheelchair seat waterproof. Plastic bags are too slippery and will not stay in place. When we went in November 2006 we found that when we went on the water rides even with ponchos she had gotten wet. When she transfered back into her chair the seat got soaked and she was still wet for hours later. We are from canada and I have asked her OT but cannot come up with any ideas. Any suggestions?

 

[SueM in MN]

We have had the same problem when we go on water rides (specifically Kali River Rapids). This is a picture from Kali River Rapids - DD is the pink smudge on the picture behind the water.

We keep thinking that we should use a poncho for her, but it's very hard to get her into the boat and I don't think the poncho would stay in place anyway.
We plan the wet ride for the last thing that we do and we also have her wheelchair seat protected with a waterproof baby pad like these from Target. They are not water proof for a large amount of water, but are water resistant. If you have something absorbant like a towel on top, that will absorb most of the water then the pad will prevent the water from getting thru. The pads have a fleecy texture that holds onto a cloth seat at least a little so it's not as slippery as a bag or poncho would be. If you have some sewing skills, you could also add velcro or elastic straps to hold it in place a little better.
I've also seen a similar product sold by the yard in fabric stores like Joann Fabrics. I can't think of the name of the product, but if you explain that it is waterproof and has a slight fleecy texture on it, they should be able to help you.
For the back of her wheelchair, we usually just use a plastic bag (like a Target bag) with holes torn for the wheelchair push handles.

 

[pinkmintz]

Thanks so much SueM for your tip it is greatly appreciated

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Would it be feasible for you to bring a change of clothes for her and change her in the nearest companion bathroom or First Aid Center? You could use some type of water-resistant fabric on the seat of her chair for the trip from the ride to the bathroom/center - something like faux chamois cloth (should be able to find it at Wal-Mart in the automotive section), which soaks up water like you can't believe and then you just ring it out and it is ready to soak up water again, or even just a towel would prob'ly work for the short trip.

Otherwise, can you change the fabric of her chair to a waterproof fabric or comfortable (as opposed to the rough/itch kind) mesh (might be handy for rainy days, too, so you could make it a permanent change)?

Also, I know there are some sprays that you can spray on fabrics to make them waterproof - you could spray that on her existing chair fabric. Ask at the fabric store which type/brand works best.

 

[pinkmintz]

thank you thank you good ideas to think about

 

[SueM in MN]

we do go change DD's clothes right after. She was soaked totally thru everything at the end of the ride when that picture was taken.
On a previous ride, her shoes and socks had gotten totally soaked. That was a bigger problem that the clothing; to protect her shoes, we used a plastic bag on each foot, held on with a rubber band. We had enough time to put them on after the boat was loaded, but before the ride began. The boat gets swamped with water during the ride, but it drains out pretty quickly once the 'drenching' occurs. We took the plastic bags off her feet before we took her out of the boat (so no one would slip getting her out).

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Like you need one more thing to carry in the parks, but have you thought of getting water shoes for the drenching rides?

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Hmm, first thing I think about is how I take a shower. Now, it might not be the greatest idea when it comes to the florida warmth (especially if you're going during the summer months), but after getting out of the 'wet situation', putting on something like a bathrobe is an option. It's soft, it's wide enough to have some room to move, it doesn't stick to the skin like plastic, you don't slide, it's relatively easie to put on (of course depending on the disability).

Another option is to bring along some towels from the room. Cover the seat (don't forget the back!) up with layers of them. They'll hold long enough to make a B-line to the room. If you worry you could even put plastic between the seat and the towels.

 

[SueM in MN]

Like you need one more thing to carry in the parks, but have you thought of getting water shoes for the drenching rides?

yes, but her feet are tender, so she still needs socks, so ouur plan didn't work quite as well as we thought.

 

[zumbergc]

If you are sewing capable. They have boat fabric (pleather) in all types of colors.

If you get 2 large pieces, and then use those tools that put holes into fabric, and then put one of the gold/silver grommets in the holes.

Then bring along some thin rope, strong string.
So remove child. Strap on the pleather fabric. Since its just for the water rides, if youhave it cover the seat, then under the seat, use the string to tie it safely to the seat, but make sure all sides are covered so it doesn't get wet. Then same thing for the seat back, cover it w/ the pleather use the string on the edges w/ the holes to secure it.

Then head to the restroom. Remove kid, get the child all dry, and then remove wet pleather and hopefully you have a dry wheel chair.

I use an ecv, and need an extra back rest, since I'm so short. Well, its fabric, so we cover the back w/ the pleather cover to keep it dry since you never know when its going to rain. It keeps the backrest from walking off, as we tie the cover on good. It only take a few minutes at the beginning of the trip and at the end. For the back rest, think rectangle. the 2 long sides have the holes down them, then we fish the string thru it.

Maybe it would work for the seat part, if you put elastic on the edge of the traffic. Then it would take less time, all depends on how easy it would go on the seat, and what parts of the arms stick up, and back rest come up from the seat. Think shower hat for the seat.

 

[SueM in MN]

just to clarify for people who might not have been on water rides with a wheelchair, the wheelchair doesn't go onto the boat. You get into a boat and are wet when you get out.

 

[mechurchlady]

The raft rides at DLR and WDW both has a spot in the dock where the rafts are locked in place. Disabled guests can take as long as reasonably necessary to board. This would allow you to put on any items like bags or ponchos. Note that most parks with water rides ahve a problem with lost items from guests that clog the drains especially maps. Some CMs are more diligent about items that may come off on the ride and be more demanding on items being secured. The drain problem is why CMs do not allow people to use trash bags as protection at DLR.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I'm afraid I've not read the answers you have here, so sorry if I repeat anyone. You could use waterproof trousers as well as the ponchos on the ride, to stop her getting wet in the first place. The main problem I've found with Khali, at least, is that the seats have a dip that collects water. That means that you're soaked through your trousers before you've even left the loading bay! Waterproof kecks should help with this bit. You might also want to wear something like Crocs or sandels, that won't hold water too much, so you don't have wet feet for ages. The disadvantage of Florida is that the humidity in the air slows evaporation, even on really hot days.

 

[mamaloya]

In Walmart, next to the mattress protectors, they have a handy little item called a waterproof mattress pad. It is 2-3 ft wide by about 4-5 ft long. It would be just the right size to cover the back and seat of the chair with. The backing is plasticky (sp? or even a word?) and the front is fleece like.

I actually can't remember my chair being wet after the ride. I do remember that I made the mistake of wearing jean capris that day. Rookie mistake. NEVER wear denim on Kali. I was wet all day, so if my chair had been wet, I would not have even noticed. If you don't want to have to change clothes afterwards, wear something like linen or seersucker, they dry fast. Even pants in the same material that swim trunks are made of should dry fast. Hey, maybe next time before I trip I should try different outfits on and let the kids soak me with the hose and see how long it takes to dry. They would love that.

Have a great trip!! Oh, and since you are going in Dec, bring a fleece blanket to cover her up with afterwards. I have a couple that are very lightweight, but extremely warm.

 

[BeckyScott]

I have no frame of reference for this, but just thinking...

What about plastic placemats? Or. What about those rubber mats for the bathtub? They can be cut to size, and they have suction cups on the bottom so they should stay in place on a seat.

Then Sue's suggestion of a plastic bag over the seat back.

 

[tigger2on]

We bought a mattress protector for my 3 yr old when we took her out of pull-ups at night. It has bugs on white fabric on one side and waterproof backing on the other. If you can sew .... you can cut it larger than your dd's seat and sew elastic in it so it can be slipped on and off of the seat easily when you leave your seat.
We bought it from a baby store in Toronto and my dad sewed it for my dd.It is washable and cute.\
Also, there is a company in the UK that makes waterproof canopies for wheelchairs. I could see if I still have the contact info....

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

yes, but her feet are tender, so she still needs socks, so ouur plan didn't work quite as well as we thought.

Ah, yeah, that wouldn't work as well for sure.

 

[pinkmintz]

Hey thanks guys for all of the great ideas!!! I think I might try the matress cover thing it sounds perfect, and the change of clothes will be a must

 

[DizWisher]

I don't know what the brand name is there, we call them Chux here. Thin waterproof blue plastic on one side, cloth-y cotton & paper on the other. We keep them on my chair all the time, if they're kept wrinkle-free they don't cause sores, and they're good protectors for wheelchair seat covers (I use a ROHO, and the cover's water resistant; I think the Jay also are, so any moisture wipes up easily.) When they're wet, they're disposable. A box of 30 is less than ten dollars. I bet your OT will know what they're called if they aren't Chux. Drugstores sometimes call them disposable bed pads.
They are good to put down on something like a cot or table at First Aid, too. We have a billion uses for them.

Have a great trip!
DizWisher
aka
Miri

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't know what the brand name is there, we call them Chux here.

Chux are what everyone in health care calls them, even if that is not the brand name (sort of the same thing as people tend to call tissues "Kleenex" and call bandages "Bandaids", even though those are brand names).