More Details

* The body harness is worn before entering the vehicle. It is fitted with a waist belt and chest strap which fasten behind the passenger's back with side-release buckles

* This harness will fit both single and bench seats

* Suitable for bus, plane and taxi travel and children in Hip Spicas

* Designed to restrain the child or adult during transport when seated in a single seat or high backed double seats where the back rest is split to the seat level

* To fit the harness easy access is required all the way round the seat back and underneath the base of the seat cushion

* The harness can also be used to offer postural support and assist in seating the occupant in an upright sitting position for persons with physical disabilities where extra support and positioning is required during travel

* It is advisable to carry out a safety and risk assessment to first consider the problems involved and what the situation would be if the passenger is not wearing a special needs harness. Could they be in danger to themselves and to other passengers in the vehicle or even other drivers on the road if they are not safely seated during travel?

* Supplier strongly recommend that a safety webbing slicer is purchased with every vehicle harness and kept in the vehicle as a safety precaution.

* This vehicle harness is classed as a low risk medical device and carries the CE mark and complies with the requirements of MDD 93/42 EEC.

Method Of Use

* Only suitable for single backrest seats eg: front seat or rear 'split-backrest' seat styles
* All 3 buckles are behind the individual where they cannot reach them
* When putting the harness on, the carer is behind the individual
* Good access must be available for carer to sit behind seat whilst putting the harness on
* Can be used on wheelchairs and other seating systems
* A gap is required between seat and backrest for strap to be passed through

Considerations

VEHICLE RESTRAINTS
* It may be helpful to refer to the following Australian Standards to assist in deciding the safest way to transport a child with a disability.
The two Australian Standards covering car restraints are:
(1). AS/NZS 1754:2004 Child Restraint System for Use in Motor Vehicles,
which covers:
- all standard car seats and capsules,
- and harnesses with user mass up to 32 kg.
(2). AS/NZS 4370:1996 Restraint of Children with Disabilities in Motor
Vehicles, which covers:
- recommendations for prescribers,
- situations that require modification,
- and custom modifications to cater for special needs.

* While most child car restraints comply with AS/NZS 1754:2004, when outside the scope of this standard it will be necessary to follow the recommendation of AS/NZS 4370:1996. Therefore a medical certificate or medical prescription is needed specifying that the user with disabilities requires alternative seating other than an approved car restraint. A copy of the current medical certificate should also be carried in the vehicle when using the restraint. It is recommended that the same procedure for adults with special needs.

Wheelchair Restraints
When transporting a person in a wheelchair in a car or van, both the occupant and the wheelchair require an RMS (formerly RTA) approved restraint system. The wheelchair and the occupant need to be separately secured to the vehicle itself.
RMS approval is not required for a postural support, such as a harness, that supports the user in the wheelchair but is not part of the vehicle restraint system.
The use of a headrest is not legally required but strongly recommended. Easily detachable, folding headrests which fit a wheelchair with standard push handles are available. Refer to section Wheelchair, Scooter, Cushions, ramps / Postural Supports - Seating System: Restraint+ Head+Back+Seats

Place Of Manufacture

Unknown

Models

Five models available (check separate items):
* Houdini 13 Harness
* Houdini 22 Harness
* Houdini 27 Harness
* Houdini 28 Harness
* Houdini 31 7-Point Harness

Options

* Anti-Escape Buckle
* Pen-Popper Buckle Upgrade
* Harness Cross Strap

Installation

* Fasten the bar buckle behind the seat back
* The top tongue-end of the vehicle buckle should rest just over the top of the seat back
* The body harness is fitted to the passenger BEFORE entering the vehicle
* Place the fixing/stabiliser strap in front of the seatback with the (38mm) under-strap lying in position on the seat
* Pass the tail end of the (50mm) fixing strap down through the access between the backrest & seat cushion
* Sit the passenger wearing the body harness on the under-strap. (When using the harness with a baby/child seat, fit the fixing strap first as above
* Then place the child seat on top of fixing strap ready for the child to sit in
* Connect the vehicle buckle halves together at the top of the shoulder straps
* Extend the shoulder straps so the buckle is positioned away from the passengers head
* Hold the padded comfort sleeve, at the bottom of the PVC chest pad & push it upwards to uncover the side-squeeze attachment buckle for the under-strap
* Connect the buckle ends & pull comfort sleeve back down to cover the buckle
* Ensure all straps are tight and secure

Standards

Standards
Some assistive technology needs to meet Australian or other standards. Standards may relate to materials, manufacturing and installation. Products that meet Australian or international standards will have written certification. To find out if a product meets Australian Standards ask the supplier to show you the certificate. For more information about standards also see
http://at-aust.org/home/assistive_technology/standards.html

TGA
Many of the items on the Assistive Technology Australia website are categorised as a Medical Device. Medical devices that are approved for use in Australia have been entered into a national database called the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), which is maintained by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). You can ask the supplier for the ARTG number for the device you wish to purchase and search the ARTG for the entry. To access information on the ARTG visit www.tga.gov.au

When buying a medical device it is advisable to only choose a medical device that is recommended by a healthcare professional and has been included on the ARTG.