People with Amputations
For our purposes amputees will include people born with one or more limbs missing as well as people with acquired amputations. Amputations may be of a single limb, they may be double amputations or more. The position of the amputation is important. A person with an above the knee amputation will be more disabled than someone with a below the knee amputation.
CAUSES
The causes of amputations may include accidents eg. car, farm, power tools etc, poor circulation due to smoking or diabetes. Cancer, infections, gangrene are all causes of amputations. Drugs taken during pregnancy may lead to children being born without limbs.
IMPLICATIONS FOR SAILING
- Equipment may need to be adapted to suit the person.
- The instructor should always be on the side of the sound limb.
- There may be difficulty with balance while sailing
