EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
EVACUATION PROCEDURES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
1. Suggestions for People with Disabilities:
a. Remain calm.
b. Be familiar with all standard Mt. SAC emergency evacuation procedures. Please
note that these guidelines are in addition to all other emergency evacuation advice
for all individuals.
c. Meet with Mt. SAC Public Safety staff to review the best evacuation routes
for the buildings you will be using.
d. Convey your personal emergency evacuation needs in writing to the Public Safety
office, your instructor, classmate, Disabled Student Programs & Services, supervisor,
or co-worker at the beginning of each semester.
e. Establish a buddy system and alternate for each class or working area. Instruct
these buddies on how to assist you in the event of an emergency. Some people may
need two buddies.
f. Carry cards or tags with emergency information, contacts and instructions on
personal assistance needs.
g. If assistance is not immediately available and you cannot exit the building
you should remain calm and move to the safest area possible such as an enclosed stairwell,
the elevator lobby, or an office with the door shut which is a good distance from
the hazard and away from falling debris. Rescue personnel will first check all exit
corridors and stairwells for those trapped.
h. Continue to call for help or use a whistle or noisemaker until rescued. All
employees should familiarize themselves with these procedures in order to assist in
planning for the evacuation of people with physical and sensory, and cognitive disabilities.
i. Individuals who use canes should keep a spare cane in their emergency kits
j. Keep spare batteries for hearing aids and computers close at hand.
k. Keep a pair of gloves for traveling over debris.
l. Have wheelchair tire patching kits with you at all times.
m. Power wheelchair users should carry battery charging car or vehicle adapters
with instructions to charge batteries from auxiliary sources.
n. Carry all essential medications and copies of prescriptions at all times.
2. In all emergencies, after an evacuation has been ordered:
a. Evacuation of people with disabilities will be given the highest priority in
all emergencies and will be evacuated if possible. Evacuating a disabled or injured
person by only one person with no assistance is a last resort.
b. Attempt a rescue evacuation ONLY if you have had rescue training.
c. Check on people with special needs during an evacuation, determine if they
have established a "buddy system," and ensure their safe evacuation.
d. Always ASK someone with a disability how you can help BEFORE attempting any
rescue technique or giving assistance. Ask how he or she can best be assisted or
moved, and whether there are any special considerations or items that need to come
with the person.
e. Do NOT use elevators, unless authorized to do so by police or fire personnel.
Elevators could fail during a fire, earthquake or flood.
3. Emergency Responses by Disability
A. BLINDNESS OR LOW VISION
1) Most persons who are blind or have low vision will be familiar with the immediate
area they are in and may have learned locations of exits and fire alarms in advance.
2) Tell the person the nature of the emergency and offer to guide him/her by offering
your left/right elbow (this is the preferred method when acting as a "Sighted Guide").
Do NOT grasp a blind or person with low vision's arm.
3) Speak directly to the person. Be descriptive when giving directions verbally
giving information on the environment. Example: if you are approaching steps, mention
how many. “There are approximately 12 steps. This is the first...this is the last.”
You are the person's eyes.
4) Ask the person to bring white canes, their guide dog, and any other mobility
aids.
5) Give verbal instructions to advise about the safest route or direction using
compass directions, estimated distances, and directional terms or information (i.e.
elevators cannot be used or if there is debris or a crowd.)
6) As you walk, tell the person where you are and advise of any obstacles, e.g.
stairs, overhanging objects, uneven pavement, curbs, and narrow passageways.
7) When you have reached a safe lawn, parking lot or designated evacuation center,
orient the person to where he/she is and ask if any further assistance is needed.
8) Some individuals may have service animals that may be disoriented during the
emergency, and may require additional assistance.
9) Always walk on the opposite side of the service animal
10) Emergency supplies should be marked with large print, fluorescent tape and Braille.
11) Keep doors shut or wide open.
B. DEAFNESS OR HEARING LOSS
1) Gain the person's attention before starting a conversation-wave your hand,
flash the lights, etc.
2) Speak directly to the person, identify yourself and offer assistance. If the
individual uses an interpreter, speak to the individual, not the interpreter.
3) Face the person directly. Maintain eye contact. Speak in a normal tone of
voice unless asked to speak up.
4) Keep your face in the light, don't put your face in a shadow or cover your
face with your hands.
5) People who speech-read (lip-read) catch, at most, only 80% of what is said.
Most speech readers have great difficulty when a responder has facial hair. Stressful
situations like a disaster may also lower the individual's ability to comprehend.
6) Many structures are not equipped with visual (flashing light) evacuation alarms
and persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may not perceive an emergency exists.
An alternative warning technique is required. Two (2) methods of warning are:
(a) Write a note stating what the emergency is and what the evacuation route is-
i.e. "Fire-go out the rear door to Parking Lot".
(b) Turn the room lights on and off to gain attention - then indicate through hand
gestures or writing (i.e. on a black board) what is happening and where to go.
7) Offer visual instructions to advise of safest route or directions by pointing
toward exits or evacuation map.
8) People who cannot speak loudly, or with voice/speech impairments, may be carrying
a whistle or have other means of attracting attention of others.
C. SPEECH DISABILITIES
1) Identify yourself and offer assistance.
2) Concentrate on what the person is saying.
3) Try to ask questions that require only short answers.
4) Do not speak for the individual or attempt to finish his or her sentences.
5) If you do not understand something the individual says, do not pretend you
do. Ask the person to repeat what he or she said and then repeat it back to confirm.
6) Be patient. Take as much time as necessary as long as it does not endanger
you.
7) If you are having difficulty understanding the person, ask the individual if
it is acceptable to use pen and paper, a talk board, etc.
D. COGNITIVE OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
1) Identify yourself and offer assistance.
2) In a normal tone of voice, speak slowly and clearly.
3) If you are in a public area with many distractions, consider moving to a quiet
or more private location to facilitate communication.
4) Break instructions into small steps in easy to follow language.
5) Be prepared to repeat what you say. Take the time to understand the individual
and make sure the individual understands you.
6) Offer assistance completing forms or understanding written instructions. If
safe, provide extra time for decision-making. Wait for the individual to accept the
offer of assistance.
7) Treat an adult as an adult, don't over assist or patronize.
8) Be patient, flexible and supportive. Depending on the nature of the disability,
the individual may have difficulty with processing instructions, short-term memory,
attention span, perception, balance, disorientation, etc.
E. WHEELCHAIR USERS/ MOBILITY DISABILITIES
1) Identify yourself, offer assistance and wait for him or her to instruct you.
2) Put yourself in at the wheelchair user's eye level. Untrained personnel should
NOT evacuate mobility-impaired persons unless the situation is life threatening.
It may be necessary to help clear the exit route of debris (if possible) so that the
person with a disability can move out or to a safer area.
3) Be sure the person has crutches, canes, walkers or any other mobility aid with
them.
4) Avoid leaning on wheelchair or assistive device. This is part of the individual's
body space.
5) Offer to push the wheelchair, wait for acceptance. Do not assume he or she
wants to be pushed. Never push without expressed permission.
6) If people with mobility impairments cannot exit, they should move to a safer
area, e.g. most enclosed stairwells, or an office with the door shut which is a good
distance from the hazard (and away from falling debris in the case of earthquakes).
7) Move out of the person's way instead of making them move around you.
8) Notify police or fire personnel immediately about any people remaining in the
building and their locations.
9) If people are in immediate danger and cannot be moved to a safer area to wait
for assistance, it may be necessary to evacuate them using an evacuation chair or
a carry technique. (See illustrations at the end of this section.) Carrying options
include using a two-person lock-arm position, or having the person sit in a sturdy
chair - preferably with arms. BEFORE TAKING ACTION, ALWAYS ASK the person their preferred
method of assistance.
F. OTHER MEDICAL AND HIDDEN DISABILITIES
1) Identify yourself, ask the nature of their disability and how best to help
them.
2) Most non-ambulatory people will be able to exit safely without assistance out
of single story buildings.
3) Frequently, non-ambulatory persons have respiratory complications or rely on
electric artificial respirators. They should be given priority assistance if there
is smoke or fumes, as their ability to breathe is seriously in danger.
4) All 2+ story buildings will require persons to be carried out if evacuation
assistance is required; ALWAYS ASK the person what method of assistance they prefer.
Some people have physical conditions where moving and lifting them may be dangerous
to their well being. If the person prefers to be moved in their wheelchair follow
the procedure below.
(a) Moving a person in a wheelchair down a flight of stairs:
(i) If the person is to be moved in their wheelchair it is desirable to have a
minimum to two assisting persons, with four assisting persons preferred for adults
with heavy wheelchairs.
(ii) Secure the wheelchair seatbelt.
(iii) The wheelchair battery may have to be removed.
(iv) The strongest person(s) should be placed at the back of the chair and will grip
the chair handles.
(v) The other assisting person(s) will note what parts of the chair are removable
such as wheels, arm rests, footplates so they do NOT lift the chair by those parts.
They will grip the front seat frame or non-removable leg rests.
(vi) Always keep the wheelchair facing away from the stairs (backwards).
(vii) ROLL the wheelchair up or down the stairs. DO NOT carry as this may cause back
trouble for the assistant. Let the wheelchair carry the weight.
(viii) Keep the wheelchair slightly tilted back to keep the wheelchair user secure.
However, do not tilt too far as this could cause the assistant to lose balance and
pitch forward.
(b) Moving a person in a wheelchair over a curb or single step:
(i) Secure the wheelchair seatbelt.
(ii) Just before reaching the edge of the curb or the step turn the wheelchair
around so that it is facing away from the edge. You will back the wheelchair down.
(iii) The assistant will hold tightly to the handles and slowly back the wheelchair
so the rear wheels roll down the edge. The assistant will press a hip against the
back of the chair as the rear wheels slowly roll off the edge.
(iv) The assistant will press a foot on the anti-tipping bar as the chair is very
slowly backed away from the curb. Then the front wheels are slowly lowered to the
ground.
(v) Turn the wheelchair around being careful to avoid people passing by.
(c) Moving a person in wheelchair over rough terrain:
(i) Secure the wheelchair seatbelt.
(ii) When approaching surfaces that may cause a problem for wheels such as grates,
soft lawns, pitted floors or sand turn the wheelchair around and go backwards.
(iii) Lift the front wheels up very slightly to put the weight of the chair on the
rear wheels. Do not tilt the chair too far back.
(iv) If the person prefers to be removed from their wheelchair, their needs and preferences
will vary. Always consult the person as to his/her preferences and needs.
(d) Transferring a person out of a wheelchair:
(i) Check that the individual is not at risk when transferred or carried.
(ii) Note the location of the wheelchair and upon exiting the building immediately
inform the Public Safety Office of the location of the wheelchair so they can retrieve
it. The wheelchair is essential to the person's mobility and safety and should be
retrieved as soon as possible.
(iii) Use a two-person chair carry when the two assistants link arms to form a backrest
and grip wrists to form a seat. (See illustrations at the end of this section.)
(iv) Semi-ambulatory person may lean against assistants back while assistant holds
both persons arms over assistant's shoulders. The assistant leans forward slightly
to take most of the person's weight.
(v) Two assistants carry person by extremities. One assistant stands behind and
wraps arms around person's chest under person's arms. Second assistant stands facing
away from the person between their legs and lifts person's legs under knees.
4. Service Animals:
a) Service animals come in all sizes and breeds from Chihuahuas to Great Danes
and from dogs to monkeys. If an individual tells you their animal is a service animal,
believe them.
b) The animal may become scared and disoriented because of the disaster and may
not be behaving as usual. Ask the owner to assist in calming the animal and help
in its evacuation.
c) Evacuate the service animal with the individual whenever possible.
5. SUMMARY:
* Prepare occupants in your building ahead of time for emergency evacuations.
Know your building occupants.
* Train staff, faculty, and students to be aware of the needs of people with
disabilities and to know how to offer assistance.
* Hold evacuation drills in which occupants participate, and evaluate drills to
identify areas that need improvement.
* Develop plans that cover regular working hours, after hours, and weekends.
* Everyone needs to take responsibility in preparing for emergencies. People
with and without disabilities should consider what they would do and whether they
need to take additional steps to prepare.
* At alarm, options are:
a) In an extreme emergency, leave the building immediately and notify emergency
personnel of a disabled person needing assistance.
b) In a moderate emergency, help the disabled person to your department's area
of safe refuge assembly point, leave the building, and notify emergency personnel
of a disabled person needing assistance.
c) Assist the disabled person to evacuate.
6. RESOURCES:
Red Cross: People with Disabilities
June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant
Individuals with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs
