Essential Medical Equipment: Fourth of July Edition

The Fourth of July is right around the corner and that means vacations, days off, parties, and—most importantly—family visits. If you have a visit planned with elderly or disabled family members, you may have to make some accommodations.

Thankfully, expensive medical equipment can be rented for short term periods. On top of this, there are many affordable solutions to make your home handicap accessible.

Let’s go over the key Fourth of July medical equipment rentals first.

Medical Equipment Rentals

  • Mobility Scooters. Scooters are a must-have if you are hitting up the Fourth of July festival circuit. Make sure to rent a scooter that is easy to transport—the smaller the better. Don’t forget to fully charge any scooter or power chair before going to see the fireworks.
  • Wheelchairs. Rental wheelchairs can make long outdoor trips manageable for a family member with mobility restrictions. Wheelchairs are perfect for parties and fairs where the user can move around a bit. If you need a wheelchair just for transporting, check out…
  • Transport Chairs. Transport wheelchairs are made solely for transporting a user. A transport chair is a perfect solution to quickly get a family member in and out of events.
  • Ramps. If you have a friend or family member visiting that regularly uses a wheelchair or powerchair, a mobility ramp rental is a game changer. Being able to roll directly into a home is amazing—especially considering the alternative requires some heavy lifting.
  • Knee Scooters. If you are worried about missing out on a festival or fair due to a lower leg injury, cheer up! Knee scooters allow users with a lower leg injury to move quickly. In fact, once you get the hang of it, knee scooters may be faster than walking!

Rentals can help out with mobility issues for visiting family and friends, but what about amenities for your home? Well…

Making Your Home Handicap Friendly for the Fourth

Total handicap accessibility at home is a large and very specific set of guidelines and modifications. That being said—you can make your home handicap friendly for visiting friends and family by getting some affordable products ready.

  • Toilet Seat Risers and Rails. Adding some temporary modifications to your bathroom is one of the best things you can do for guests with special needs. Easy to install, toilet rails and risers give a great deal of independence to those with mobility issues.
  • Grab Bars. If you are hosting friends or family overnight, temporary grab bars can be added to your shower or tub. Grab and tub bars give users something to grab onto if they have balance problems. If balance is not the only issue in the tub you could look at…
  • Shower Chairs and Bath Benches. If a grab bar won’t do the trick, allowing a guest to sit in the shower or tub should. Many sizes and styles are available to fit specific needs.
  • Cushions. Chairs, even ‘comfortable’ ones, can be uncomfortable for users with specific needs. Cushions are available in many shapes and styles, allowing guests to comfortably sit in any chair in your home.

These temporary home modifications all require little to no installation time and effort!

Don’t forget to ask any friends or family members with specific needs if they need a particular item. Items required on an individual level should be taken care of before general ones.

Don’t Forget—Oswald’s Pharmacy is OPEN on the Fourth of July!

I’ll start this section by giving a public service announcement: Reserve your medical equipment rentals for the Fourth of July as soon as possible! We can’t guarantee we will have the item you need on the 3rd (odds dwindle further on the 4th).

That being said—we will have rentals and products for home available all week. If you need a specific item or have questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. Our Medical Equipment Showroom team will be here all week to answer your questions and help you find what you need.

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Written by Wil Anderson

Wil has been working for Oswald's since 1994. A 6th generation member of the Wickel-Oswald-Kester-Anderson family, Wil focuses on web development, inventory, and sales. With over 10 years of experience selling durable and home medical equipment, Wil is an expert on helping people find what they need to use after major surgery or an accident. Wil graduated with a BA in English Literature from Knox College in 2008, minoring in History. A graduate of Naperville North High School in 2004, Wil is a lifelong Naperville resident and is currently a columnist for Positively Naperville.