Hippocampe Pool Access Wheelchair by Vipamat

The Hippocampe Waterproof Pool Access Wheelchair is an aquatic, submersible wheelchair that is built to be completely waterproof, allowing it to be used in the shower room and even in the pool without risk of rusting or damage. This convenient design also eliminates the need for wheelchair users to take their regular wheelchairs poolside, where they may get wet. The Hippocampe's hydrophobic foam seat repels water while providing cushion for the user, making it comfortable to sit in while poolside or in the water.

A unique feature of the Hippocampe compared to other aquatic wheelchairs is that it can be used in the pool, where it will float when not weighed down by a user's body weight. This keeps it readily available for the user when they are ready to leave the pool. The Hippocampe can also be used to descend stairs into a pool, thanks to its camber and low seat platform that provide extra stability during descent.

While the Hippocampe provides independence to users by making it easier to enter and exit pools on their own, it also has a push handle that provides a convenient grip for caregivers and helpers, so they can push the wheelchair into the pull, out of the pull, and on land.

Using the Hippocampe
There are three ways for users to makes transfers from the Hippocampe into a pool. For pools with ramps or a sloped entrance, the users can enter the pool seated in the wheelchair, and then slide or heave them self out of the chair into the water. The chair can also be stopped poolside and locked in place using the brakes, and the user can be transfered out of the chair and onto the floor, where they can then slide into the pool. A third option is for the user to pull the chair up to a pool's stairs, and get out onto the stairs with the help of another person.

Enhancing Public Facilities for the Disabled
One of the most accessible sports for people with disabilities is swimming, due to the weightlessness provided by the water. This buoyancy allows easier movements without the need for assistance from another person. Swimming is a great way to allow these individuals to get exercise, which they may not be able to do on land due to mobility issues. For this reason, it is extra important that public swimming pools are adapted for utilization by disabled people.

While it is most certainly useful for individual use by a single owner, the most convenient way to utilize the Hippocampe is for it to be purchased by a business or institution for use by its clients or customers. For example, public pools, gyms, schools, and therapy clinics can benefit from own at least one Hippocampe wheelchair. By providing an aquatic wheelchair for clients to use when they come to the pool, institutions can attract new clients as well as better accommodate existing disabled clients. It would be ideal for all public pools to have equipment such as the Hippocampe available for use for disabled individuals, as a small way of making these people's lives easier and happier overall.