The concept for today’s Safer Automatic Wheelchair Wheel Lock fall prevention system was first developed by Dr. Grady Dugas. A 1953 graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine and a nursing home Medical Director for over 30 years, Dr. Dugas witnessed firsthand the problem of wheelchair related falls. He made it his mission to help reduce falls and injuries and further improve the quality of the residents’ lives.

Dr Dugas began experimenting with different wheelchair locking and fall prevention systems and he was awarded his first patent in 1993. Later, Dr. Dugas joined forces with Bill Hoge, President of United Plastic Molders in Jackson, Mississippi. With the help of Bill Hoge and the skilled craftsmen of UPM, they developed a lighter and more maintenance free wheelchair wheel lock design which utilized advanced DuPont polymers. The new design was patented in 1999 and Safer Automatic Wheelchair Wheel Locks was formed.

Today, the team of dedicated professionals at UPM and Safer Automatic Wheelchair Wheel Locks continues to fulfill Dr. Dugas’ mission to “help prevent wheelchair related falls and improve the quality of residents’ lives”.

 

The team at Safer Automatic Wheelchair Wheel Locks and United Plastic Molders takes great pride in helping to prevent falls and in the quality of their work and craftsmanship. The staff at Safer and UPM average over 20 years of dedication and experience in their field.

  

Our mission at Safer Automatic Wheelchair Wheel Locks is to help reduce wheelchair related falls and injuries and in the process help improve the quality of life for thousands of people who depend on wheelchairs for mobility every day.