EVACUATING PERSONS WITH MOBILITY LIMITATIONS
The following is a general guideline of evacuation procedures for persons with disabilities during fire and other building emergencies. Individuals with disabilities must identify their primary and secondary evacuation routes. Each evacuation route must lead to an exit or safely lead to an area of refuge.
After identifying two evacuation routes, a recommendation is that each person with a disability ask a co-worker, friend or fellow student to provide assistance if an emergency develops. This “evacuation assistant” should be informed about what disabilities you have and how he or she can best help you.
The John Carroll University community can help by being aware of others who may need assistance in an evacuation.
Evacuation Options
Persons with disabilities have four basic evacuation options:
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Horizontal evacuation: using building exits to the outside ground level or going into unaffected wings of multi-building complexes.
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Stairway (vertical) evacuation: using steps to reach ground level exits form the building.
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Stay in place: unless danger is imminent, remaining in a room with an exterior window, a telephone, and a solid or fire resistant door. With this approach, the person may keep in contact with emergency services by dialing 911 and reporting his or her location directly. Emergency services will immediately relay this location to on-site emergency personnel, who will determine the necessity for evacuation. Phone lines are expected to remain in service during most building emergencies. If the phone lines fail, the individual can signal from the window by waving a cloth or other visible object.
The stay in place approach may be more appropriate for sprinkler protected buildings, or buildings where an “area of refuge” is not nearby or available. It may also be more appropriate for an occupant who is alone when the alarm sounds. A label on the doorjamb or frame can identify a fire resistant door. Non-labeled 1 ¾ inch thick solid core wood doors hung on a metal frame also offer good fire resistance.
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Area of refuge: with an evacuation assistant, go to an area of refuge away from obvious danger. The evacuation assistant will then go to the building evacuation rally point, and notify the on-site emergency personnel of the location of the person with a disability. Emergency personnel will determine if further evacuation is necessary.
The safest “areas of refuge” are stair enclosures or open-air balconies. Other possible “areas of refuge” include fire-rated corridors or vestibules adjacent to exit stairs and elevator lobbies. Many campus buildings feature fire rated corridor construction that may offer safe refuge. Taking a position in a rated corridor next to the stairs is a good alternative to a small stair landing crowded with other building occupants using the stairways as a means of exit in an emergency.
Disability Guidelines
Persons using wheelchairs or scooters should “stay in place” or move to an “area of refuge” with their assistant when the alarm sounds. The evacuation assistant should then proceed to the evacuation rally point, and tell the University Heights Fire Department or Campus Safety Services the location of the person with a disability. If the person with a disability is alone, he/she should phone emergency services at 911 with their present location.
Persons with mobility impairments, who are able to walk independently, may be able to negotiate stairs in an emergency with minor assistance. If there is no immediate danger (detectable smoke, fire or unusual odor), the person with a disability may choose to stay in the building, using the other options, until the emergency personnel arrive and determine if evacuation is necessary.
Most buildings on campus are equipped with fire alarm strobe lights; however some (Millor, Sutowski, Dolan, Murphy, Pacelli, Counseling /Honors House, Career Center) are not. Persons with hearing impairments may not hear audio emergency alarms and will need to be alerted of emergency situations. Emergency instructions can be given by writing a short explicit note to evacuate.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with hearing impairments may be met by modifying the building fire alarm system, particularly for occupants who spend most of their day in one location. Persons requiring such accommodations should contact the either Services for Students with Disabilities or John Carroll University’s Human Resources Department.
Most people with a visual impairment will be familiar with their immediate surroundings and frequently traveled routes. Since the emergency evacuation route is likely different from the commonly traveled route, persons who are visually impaired may need assistance in evacuating. The assistant should offer their elbow to the individual with a visual impairment and guide him or her through the evacuation route. During the evacuation the assistant should communicate as necessary to ensure safe evacuation.
REMEMBER:
Prior planning and practicing of emergency evacuation routes are important in assuring a safe evacuation.
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