What must be done with the wheelchair brakes before weighing?

What must be done with the wheelchair brakes before weighing?

• A. Unlock wheelchair brakes
• B. Lock wheelchair brakes
• C. Adjust scale weights
• D. Weigh resident while seated

Answer: (B)

Locking the wheelchair brakes stabilizes the chair so the scale can read the true combined weight of the resident and the chair without any movement. If the brakes aren’t locked, the chair could roll or shift, making the measurement inaccurate and creating a safety risk for the resident and caregiver. So, before weighing, secure the chair by locking the brakes. The other actions wouldn’t provide the necessary stability needed for an accurate and safe weight measurement.

Locking the wheelchair brakes stabilizes the chair so the scale can read the true combined weight of the resident and the chair without any movement. If the brakes aren’t locked, the chair could roll or shift, making the measurement inaccurate and creating a safety risk for the resident and caregiver. So, before weighing, secure the chair by locking the brakes. The other actions wouldn’t provide the necessary stability needed for an accurate and safe weight measurement.