Wheelchairshave been an important part of society. From helping wounded soldiers during the war, to helping the physically disabled to engage in various sporting activities—even allowing them to form professional athletic leagues of their own.

However, most of us, including those who use wheelchairs, don’t even know how wheelchairs came about. Below is a series of interesting wheelchair tidbits that are arranged in chronological order to give you a brief history of the wheelchair’s development.

Macedonia: 4000 B.C.

The wheel and the chair were two separate inventions that existed at the same period in Macedonia.

The Greeks: 530 B.C.

Illustrated vases found among Greek relics show beds on wheels. This suggests that the Greeks were the ones who initiated putting furniture on wheels.

The Chinese: 3rd Century A.D.

It was during the 3rd Century that the Chinese thought of attaching wheels to the legs of a chair to be able to transport the elderly and those who, for one reason or another, have difficulty walking.

The Romans 1553

The Romans, being…Romans, thought that wheels attached to chairs is a genius way of making the disabled work in the fields so that production won’t suffer.

King Philip II of Spain: 1595

The King wanted to be wheeled from one drinking spree to another in true royal comfort. So he decided that his wheeled-chair must have a footrest. We can all thank King Philip II for introducing the first wheelchair with a footrest.

Stephen Farfler: 1655

A disabled watch maker at 22, Stephen Farfler came up with the idea of making a self-propelled wheelchair. He got tired of having to wait for people to wheel him to where he needed to go. This allowed him to finish workingon more watches.

John Dawson: 1783

We owe the adjustable footrests and the reclining backrests to John Dawson. Dawson’s modifications opened people’s eyes to more opportunities to improve the wheelchair—including provisions for holding bags and cups.

Having to rely on a wheelchair could dissuade you from exploring the outdoors. However, spending some time away from the city could actually help make you feel better overall.

The idea of spending a night away from the comforts of your home could seem daunting. Taking smart precautions and being prepared will make the experience worth all the effort.

Make sure you have the right kind of wheelchair

Before you even consider going into the woods or camping by the lake, check if your wheelchair is up for the challenge. Your wheels should have enough traction for the type of terrain you’ll be up against. Bring a wheel patch kit for good measure. Waterproof the entire wheelchair to avoid rust later on. And make sure your wheelchair brakes do their job.

Based on your needs, activities, and the places you intend to go to, figure out whether a light wheelchair or a heavy, mechanized wheelchair is better. Remember that mechanized wheelchairs run on batteries so you might have to bring a spare battery to be safe.

Make sure people know where you are

This is a basic, general camping rule. If you and your buddies settle in a huge area, there is always a big risk of somebody getting lost. It would be wise to attach some kind of noise maker to your wheelchair so that it would be easy for you to find them and vice versa.

Equip your wheelchair with reflectors. Attach pouches and bags to your wheelchair to make space for basic needs like water, a little food, some money, and a change of clothes.

The buddy system

This is highly recommended for large groups. Everyone has an equal chance of getting left behind. Pick someone reliable and fairly knowledgeable of the outdoors. Brief your buddy on the basic functions of your wheelchair before you even leave for your trip.

If your buddy happens to be a girl, you might even follow up your trip together with a date.

Although wheelchairs require fewer parts than cars, the same care and attention should be given to wheelchairs. Because like a car, it is always a hassle to have something broken, causing a break down in the middle of the road.

As we wait for some brilliant capitalist to come up with a wheelchair-wash, you have to take things upon yourself and act now. Your wheelchair might not be able to wait for the wheelchair-wash to become a reality. Here are 3 simple tips on how you can do basic periodic wheelchair maintenance using cleaning stuff that are readily available.

1. Dry, damp, dry

This rule applies to every part of your wheelchair, and this is the rule that begins the maintenance process. Using a dry, soft cloth, wipe off dust and dirt from all surfaces. Then, use another cloth you can wet, and wipe the surfaces again. This is to remove stubborn stains. Go back to using your dry cloth for drying off.

2. Take precautionary measures against rust

Products that allow you to waterproof leather and fabric are great for your wheelchair seat. You won’t have to worry about the seat smelling bad or the leather peeling after being accidentally left out in the rain.

Products that protect metal from rust may be used for the frame of your wheelchair. Make sure you get the joints where parts are hinged or screwed together.

3. Make sure rubber parts still provide traction and grip

Wheel maintenance doesn’t end with making sure they are inflated. It is also important to be aware of whether or not they can still provide friction to make sure that you remain in control of where you want to go.

Check the lock and break mechanisms. Make sure the pads can still do their job to prevent accidents, especially if you often find yourself in uneven terrains.

Who said only cars have the right to bling and cool accessories? Your wheelchair can very well be a blank canvas on which you can do anything. Today, we give you 3 tips on how you can dress up your wheelchair. 

1. Add art
1. Air brush art

The best area to have anything airbrushed on is behind your backrest. Standard manual wheelchairs have nice smooth backrests ideal for air brush art. The surface area is big enough, making the artwork more visible and easier to apply. Even surfaces like your backrest also make drying more even.  

Usually, air brush art produces pieces in deep, bold colors with thick outlines. This is great if you like graffiti art or if you’re into neo-impressionism. Air bush is also the way to go if you’d like to immortalize actors or musicians on your backrest. 

2. Hand painted art

You’d be amazed to learn that you can fit murals in your backrest. With the right artist, you recreate famous frescos and even iconic paintings. If you prefer something edgier, you can have a little Andy Warhol painted on your backrest. If you fancy Warhol’s soup can, wheelchairs with a reclining back have enough space to accommodate that. 

2. Add bling

Instead of painted art, you can opt to add shiny metal pieces onto your wheelchair. You can make your wheelchair wear simple wardrobe accessories like spiky cuffs and wallet chains. For extra toughness, you can use an old, beat-up leather belt with metal studs. Have someone sew it onto the backrest or use super-glue.  

3. Accessorize