Rampfor stairs outside

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They deliver a lot of volts, but very few amps. Stun guns shoot an electrical pulse that’s designed to go through clothing and skin and give someone a nasty shock. A very high voltage ensures that the pulse will reach its target, and the very low amperage keeps it from doing any lasting damage. It’s helpful to analogize these measures with water pressure: A high voltage is akin to water that’s flowing at high pressure, while a low amperage is like water that’s not flowing very quickly. The injury inflicted by an electric shock depends on the interaction between the “pressure” and “flow rate” of the electricity. (The area and duration of contact also make a difference.)

Bonus Explainer: How do lightning strikes compare to Taser blasts? Lightning kills its victims 10 percent to 20 percent of the time. The bolts send a much nastier shock—a few milliseconds at 300,000 volts and tens of thousands of amps—but only a small portion of their energy actually penetrates the skin. (The rest runs over the surface of the body, in what’s called lightning “flashover.”) Taser pulses, which have only the tiniest fraction of this amperage, deliver a more efficient shock to the victim via the electrodes. Even so, Taser shocks do little or no lasting damage. Lightning strikes often cause heart attacks, severe burns, and long-term neurological problems.

Portable wheelchair ramps for steps

I began searching for ramps online and found the Suitcase Singlefold GF (Graphite Fiber). The ramp was introduced to consumers last fall. Made by EZ-ACCESS, the company says it is the lightest folding ramp in the industry. It comes in five sizes ranging from 29 to 82 inches long and weighing between 7.5 to 21 pounds. I ordered the biggest size they make.

The Suitcase Singlefold (GF) is designed to support up to 650 pounds. The gray slip-resistent coating provides good traction for my 250 pound power wheelchair. Another feature I hadn’t seen on other ramps is bright yellow striping on both sides of the ramp to aid visibility.

Portable WheelchairRampfor 4 steps

My new 6 foot 8 inch ramp only weighs 21 pounds. That is amazing when compared to my old 3 foot metal ramp which weighs 20 pounds.Â

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Once the electrodes hit their target, the Taser sends a pulse with about 50,000 volts and a few milliamps. On its standard setting, the pulse cycles for five seconds before shutting off. (The pulse continues for as long as you hold the trigger.) The five-second shock sends intense signals through the victim’s nervous system, which causes considerable pain and triggers a contraction in all his muscles. Temporary paralysis can set in, and most victims fall to the ground. Tasers can also be used like regular stun guns in what’s called “drive stun” mode. This causes more localized pain and less widespread muscle contraction.

How to build atemporary rampover stairs for moving

Temporary rampover stairs

Because I have weak hands, my family members or friends carry my ramp and set it up for me. The new ramp is so light my neighbor’s10-year-old daughter can assist me.  Despite the length of the ramp, it can be tucked at an angle inside my wheelchair accessible minivan. The ramp folds in half for transporting and storage. The ergonomically designed handle makes carrying it more comfortable.

When my new friend, Monique, invited us to attend a holiday party at her home, my first concern was about accessibility. Are there steps to the front door? If so, how many and how high? What is the width of the door? How big is the porch? Is there an alternate entrance to the home? After a brief discussion with Monique, I realized my three foot long portable ramp would not be sufficient to navigate the four steps up to her large back deck and through the doorway. Living in the New Orleans area, I frequently encounter raised homes and had been contemplating buying a longer ramp.

Independent investigators will look into last Tuesday’s incident on the UCLA campus, in which a student was subjected to five Taser shocks by the university police. (Here’s a video.) Meanwhile, Taser International Inc. has filed lawsuits in Ohio and Indiana against coroners who have cited “electrical pulse incapacitation” as a cause of death. How do these things work, anyway?

Barbara and Jim Twardowski are freelance writers specializing in disability and travel topics. Their articles can be seen in AAA Home & Away, Global Traveler, Quest and many other outlets.

Portable stairRampfor elderly

Last year, EZ-ACCESS began offering a lifetime warranty on all its ramps. I’m so impressed with this product, I plan to replace my smaller metal ramp with the oh-so-much-more-portable Suitcase Singlefold (GF).

Amnesty International contends that Taser shocks may be implicated in the deaths of more than 150 people since 2001, and coroners have cited stun-gun shocks as a factor in more than 20 deaths over that period. Researchers who Tasered anesthetized pigs have found little permanent damage, and there’s  scant evidence that the shocks would be fatal for healthy adults. Victims who are intoxicated or have pre-existing heart conditions may be at greater risk. Repeated shocks from a Taser may also be more dangerous.

Rampfor Steps at home

Stun guns work by pressing a pair of electrodes against the victim in order to create an electric circuit. (Most use 9-volt batteries, or a handful of AAs.) Tasers differ from standard stun guns in that the electrodes are tethered to long, insulated wires and can be fired from the weapon with a burst of carbon dioxide. A standard stun gun or cattle prod can only be used at close range; Tasers can shoot someone from 20 feet away.

The manufacturer warns that Taser shocks may cause breathing problems, skin irritation, small puncture wounds, or minor burns, and that the violent muscle contractions can result in “athletic-type injuries.” Police officers are also instructed to “avoid weapon confusion”; i.e., don’t mistake your handgun for a stun gun.

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EZ-ACCESS sells the ramps through distributors. To learn more about the product or vendors, visit their website www.ezaccess.com.