Beach Wheelchair - A Day At The Beach

Anyone, who has spent an extended period of time in a wheelchair, knows a disability presents unique challenges every single day. Consider the simple pleasure of spending the day at the beach. For normal people, the feeling of wet sand between the toes is part of the overall experience. Getting buried in the sand is fun, up to a point. Once free of the sand, a person runs to the water, rinses off, and the joy of spending a day at the beach continues. Now, consider visiting the beach in a wheelchair. No sand between the toes, no chance to run in the water, and a chair stuck, sometimes axle deep, in the sand. The thought does not make for a pleasant sunny afternoon. Too bad someone has not invented a beach wheelchair.

Guess again! The beach wheelchair is a strange and wondrous mixture of pioneering technology, comfort and fun. Forget getting stuck in the mud or getting bogged down in the sand. The beach wheelchair has several unique features to make beach-going fun for everyone in the family, including the handicapped.

Probably the first features anyone will notice are the humungous front tires. Similar to an oversized version of the donut tire, people temporarily use to replace a flat tire, the front tires on the beach chair look like Cheerio-shaped balloons. The back tires are similar, though on a much smaller scale. Unlike the standard chair, the large wheels are in the front to keep the chair, and its occupant, from getting stuck less than a foot off the parking lot.

The next noticeable difference from a regular chair is the brightly painted hardware. Pick a color, any color, and have fun with the odd version of a much needed transportation device. However, the color is simple for fun. Under the color is where the unique design benefits the disabled. Beach wheelchairs are built with an extra sturdy frame, resistant to rust and salt. Thus, people do not have to worry about ruining the chair if it gets wet. In fact, for the handicapped with excellent upper body strength, some beach versions of the wheelchair can be self-propelled, so even the disabled can dangle toes in the water.

Finally, who goes to the beach without a towel, some sunscreen, and the desire for rest and relaxation? The handicapped are no exception. Some styles of beach wheelchairs have leg lifts, and recline to a full prone position. Add a great umbrella to the provided holder in the chair, and the handicapped are all set to enjoy the total experience of going to the beach on a warm Summer day.

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