Stairlift Safety: What Every Family Should Know

Installing a stairlift changes life at home for the better — but it also introduces a new piece of equipment that everyone in the household needs to understand. Whether you have grandchildren visiting at weekends or a curious dog who treats the stairs as a racetrack, a few simple precautions make all the difference.

Here's what we tell every family when we install a stairlift in South Wales.

Children are naturally curious, and a stairlift is an irresistible piece of kit. The most important rule is simple: a stairlift is not a toy.

Practical steps:

• Explain to children that the stairlift is for the person who needs it, not for rides
• When the lift is not in use, park it at the top of the stairs and fold up the footrest — this keeps the bottom of the staircase clear
• Most stairlifts have a key switch that disables the controls; use it when children are visiting if you're concerned
• Never allow a child to ride on the footrest or armrests

The obstruction sensors will stop the lift if something gets in the way, but they're a safety backup — not a substitute for supervision.

Dogs and cats can be unpredictable around moving machinery. A few habits will keep your pets safe:

• Keep pets off the stairs when the lift is in use
• Check the stairs are clear before setting off — a sleeping cat on the bottom step is easy to miss
• The footrest sensors should stop the lift if a pet wanders underneath, but again, prevention is better than relying on the sensors

If your pet is particularly anxious around the lift, it may help to keep them in another room until they get used to the sound and movement.

This is one of the most common questions we get. The good news is that all the stairlifts we supply run on rechargeable batteries that are kept topped up by the mains supply. This means your stairlift will continue to work during a power cut — typically for several journeys.

What to do:

1. Use the lift as normal — the battery will power it
2. Once power is restored, the batteries will recharge automatically
3. If the power cut is prolonged and the battery runs low, the lift will give a warning (usually a beeping sound or a flashing light) — call us on 07779 544439 and we'll advise you

Beyond the specific scenarios above, here are the everyday habits that keep stairlift users safe:

Always:

• Fasten the seatbelt before travelling
• Keep the footrest folded down while seated (it should lower automatically when you sit)
• Wait until the lift has fully stopped before standing up
• Swivel the seat to face away from the stairs before standing (if your model has a swivel seat)

Never:

• Stand on the footrest
• Carry heavy or bulky items that could unbalance you
• Use the lift if you notice any unusual noises or behaviour — call us first

The stairlift rail runs along one side of your staircase, leaving the rest of the stairs free for other household members to use. Keep this in mind:

• Don't store items on the stairs — even temporarily
• Make sure any stair carpet is firmly secured and not lifting at the edges
• Good lighting on the staircase is important for everyone, not just the stairlift user

Safety around a stairlift is mostly common sense, but it's worth taking a few minutes to go through these points with everyone in the household. If you have any questions about your specific model or situation, give us a call — we're always happy to help.