Whether sending a walker to an aunt with arthritis or a pair of crutches to a friend who injured a knee, shipping mobility aids and walking devices is a simple task that can be accomplished without any glitches as long as proper packing techniques are employed. Here are some practical tips on how to properly pack and ship walkers and other mobility devices to ensure that they arrive safe and intact.
Walkers and its wheeled variant, rollators, may look bulky but they are usually collapsible or can be easily disassembled for portability and easy storage. To pack a walker, break it down (follow the manufacturer’s instructions) to its smallest size possible. Disassembly usually involves loosening some screws. Make sure to keep any lose screws and small parts that were removed during disassembly and keep them in a Ziploc bag.
Once the locks has been removed, some walkers can still be in one piece that can be folded down into a smaller size. Other types can be knocked down into smaller pieces. Wrap folded down walkers in several layers of bubble wrap and secure with packaging tape. Place it inside a shipping box that is large enough to accommodate the walker and still have at least a couple of inches on all sides, top and bottom for packing materials. Make sure that all empty spaces are filled with packing materials such as foam pads, bubble wrap or packing peanuts to prevent any movement during transit.
When dealing with disassembled walkers, wrap each part in bubble wrap secured with tape. Place the wrapped parts in a shipping box with a layer of packing materials in the bottom. Fill the box with more packing materials to ensure that the parts are nestled snugly in the center of the box and have no chances of banging into each other during transit.
Don’t for get to insert the bagged screws and small parts into one corner of the package before sealing the box close. Also make sure to include instructions on how to re-assemble the mobility devices in the box to make it easier for the recipient to use the item once he got a-hold of the package.
Address and label the box and take to your local post office or shipping company. Most modern walking sticks and crutches are also collapsible and can be packed the same way as mentioned above.