Need help with scooter in rain....

[MarriedToAPrince]

We are leaving for Disney in roughly 6.5 weeks and I have already rented a scooter from an offsite company. (I was in a car accident almost 3 years ago and fractured my spine and sustained a neck injury as well and have permanent damage.) Anyways, what do you do when you are in the parks and it starts to rain? Do you put a poncho over it? Any suggestions?

 

[SueM in MN]

Some people buy a shower cap to cover the controls (some companies provide one).
Most people do use a poncho. That way you can cover yourself and the scooter.

I'm sure that others will be along with more specific advice - I'm just going from what I see and read as a wheelchair pusher.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I will use a poncho. The back of it will go ovedr the back of the seat and the front will go ovedr the handlebars. It will protect most of me from the rain, as well as keeping both the controls and the seat dry.

 

[lovetoscrap]

In an emergency I have used a plastic shopping bag or a trash bag to cover the controller and a trash bag for the seat. You want to keep the controller dry. If you are going to go inside somewhere and leave the scooter outside be sure to cover it with a poncho or bag or something if you suspect it may rain. (like if it is a day ending in y in Florida!) Even if you leave it in a covered area the CM's could move it.

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

Thank you!

 

[bidnow5]

I always carry a plastic bags so if it rains I put one over the controller then I use a poncho for me and the rest of the scooter

 

[Piper]

I found a package of 10 old fashioned "rain bonnets" for $1 many years ago. I keep some in my ECV and just use that to cover the controls. I can still reach in to drive, but it protects from the rain!

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Finally I'm going to ask, after long times of wondering.

Every once in a while this topic comes up and everybody advices at least to cover the controls from the rain. My question is; WHY?

I'm asking this question because I'm wondering what makes the difference between the US ECV's and those in our neck of the woods. While England might be more famous for it's reputation of always having rain, the Netherlands is doing it's best on that department also. Winter, spring, summer or autumn? Morning, afternoon, evening; rain, rain, rain, rain. I've experienced Florida getting a lot of fluids in a very short time, but then again that's no different than I've experienced at home frequently enough. Because of our social system, there is a huge amount of ECV-users. Combine all of those ECV's an all of that rain, and it results to ECV's being out in the rain all of the time. And yet; nobody ever covers their control out of any 'need'. Heck, user manuals will even inform folks it's not needed, the ECV's can take quite a 'drowning'.

Done the same thing myself for years, never ever a problem. Well, perhaps apart from a wet bum if leaving the seat unprotected out in the rain. In our council alone there are about 200 ECV users. Never had one report about a control malfunctioning because of being exposed to the rain. (have to say that maintanence also falls under coverage, and I'm part of an adviceboard in our council and keep an eye out for any of these types of problems or other common malfunctions).

What makes the American ECV's so different to the Dutch ones that the first apparently need covering of the controls while in the rain and the latter doesn't? Or are it rather the users that make this difference?

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I suspect that it's not that there's any greater risk with a US ECV compared to one in Europe, but that in the US there's a greater risk of being sued if someone is unaware of the possibility of malfunction when wet. It's very rare that there are malfunctions as it generally means that a seal has been broken, but they can happen and in the US a lot more warnings have to be around than in other places.

But a lot of ECVs in the US and Europe are the same. I know I've used the same model of scooter from shop mobility in the UK as one of my friends in the US uses.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

I suspect that it's not that there's any greater risk with a US ECV compared to one in Europe, but that in the US there's a greater risk of being sued if someone is unaware of the possibility of malfunction when wet. It's very rare that there are malfunctions as it generally means that a seal has been broken, but they can happen and in the US a lot more warnings have to be around than in other places.

But a lot of ECVs in the US and Europe are the same. I know I've used the same model of scooter from shop mobility in the UK as one of my friends in the US uses.

First off; thanks for the info.

Getting sued isn't a riskfactor for us. Thanks to manditory insurance for any of these type of 'motorized' aids. If something does go wrong and you end up damaging property or injuring anybody; insurance will cover. Basically as long as you don't act totally overly irresponsible; no need to worry. That's one of the reasons you'll see license plates on our 'motorized' mobility aids. I've had so many folks all over the world wonder, and thinking I had one for fun.


Be carefull when comparing, by the way. I've found our level of aids to be very high, probably one of the highest within Europe except for Scandinavia. Even when it comes to rentals -allthough depending a bit on the source-, they tend to not compare to rentals in other European countries. The UK for instance - very unfortunately imho- compares pretty pale on many things. I haven't done ECV-spotting on purpose while at WDW, but we can all conclude they are a bit hard to miss. Excluding the WDW-rentals, I haven't seen many -if any??- types running around that are the standard over here. Which had me wondering if that was one of the reasons for the difference.

Boy, talk about going OT.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I wonder if yours are made much more "heavy duty" than most of our are? They may be designed to be outdoors and exposed to the elements. For the most part the personal ones here seem to really be meant for primarily indoor use on flat ground. There are ones better suited for outdoor use but they are expensive. Here personal ones are generally just used outdoors to get from the car into the store.

It is interesting that you see so many of them where you are. I am in a good sized area and it is very rare to see someone with a personal ECV. Maybe that is because so many of the larger stores provide them for use. But even at the mall or other locations I am definitely an oddity. There also just doesn't seem to be much of a general awareness of them. I get stopped almost every time I am out by someone wanting to know where I got mine, how much it is, how would they go about finding one etc.. and they usually have a personal story of a family member who doesn't get out of the house much anymore because of mobility issues.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

I wonder if yours are made much more "heavy duty" than most of our are? They may be designed to be outdoors and exposed to the elements. For the most part the personal ones here seem to really be meant for primarily indoor use on flat ground. There are ones better suited for outdoor use but they are expensive. Here personal ones are generally just used outdoors to get from the car into the store.

I think you've just nailed it! In our neck of the woods they're seen as an aid to get around outside, within about a 15 miles range around your own home. (outside that range, we've got other options). Combine that with the cobblestones Europe just loves, and you def. need sturdy ones.

It is interesting that you see so many of them where you are. I am in a good sized area and it is very rare to see someone with a personal ECV. Maybe that is because so many of the larger stores provide them for use.

It'll def. play it's roll in it. For us that is totally "bizarre". Very few attraction parks will have some for rental, but that's about it. If you need one for temporary usage, you rent them from the same company that supplies them if you get your own through the council. But then again, our stores are little. Like put 8 of them in a regular Walmart.

Also our systems are totally different wired. Where our system is very geared towards helping individuals with their disability when it comes to their homes, mobility aids, aids needed for work etc. we are SO behind on what I call "beyond my own home". The US has an amazing accessibility system for public life. I mean, I find it a total joy to be able to use accessible public transport. Heck, accessible stores, restaurants etc. already can be a problem over here. Our system probably is wired towards "stay inside, work, go home, and don't have a public or social life". I don't know how far I can "judge" the US system as just seeing small parts of it, but it does seem the US is very geared towards public life and work and a bit less towards the personal needed aids, adjustments etc. Again; that's purely based on a very little look into the experiences of some folks that reside in the US with the same type of medical problems as myself.

But even at the mall or other locations I am definitely an oddity. There also just doesn't seem to be much of a general awareness of them. I get stopped almost every time I am out by someone wanting to know where I got mine, how much it is, how would they go about finding one etc.. and they usually have a personal story of a family member who doesn't get out of the house much anymore because of mobility issues.

Oh boy, don't you just feel your heart shrinking whenever you hear such a story. I get some of the same, especially when being abroad. But even at home. My aids don't fit the 'regular standard', as they don't fit my needs. Folks are amazed when they see them. And then it all comes down to the basics; folks not being aware of the options out there, what their rights are or how to proceed and get what they need. It's such a shame! One of the major reasons I do the volunteerwork that I do.