Special Assistance Needs & Disability Emergency Building Evacuation Plan

Tips for Assisting Persons with Special Needs and/or Disabilities in an Evacuation

General Guidelines

• Participate in and help identify gaps in evacuation plans during practice drills.
• Offer assistance, but let the person explain what help is needed.
• Do not carry a person except in the most extreme of circumstances.
• Be aware that a service animal's sense of direction may become confused during an emergency.
• Do not abandon the person after exiting a building. Lead to a safe place with others.

Assisting Persons who Use Wheelchairs

• Be familiar with designated areas of refuge and location of evacuation equipment for wheelchair users.
• If the person is unable to speak clearly, look for a sign on the chair with printed instructions.
• Only in situations of extreme danger should untrained people attempt to carry a person in a wheelchair.
• Prior to moving the person, check for life-support equipment.
• Be aware that wheelchairs have parts not designed to handle the stress of lifting.
• If you and/or others cannot safely carry a person up/down stairs, don't. Instead:
  • Position the person in the safest place possible, according to the emergency.
  • Alert emergency personnel of person's location.

Assisting Deaf or Hard of Hearing Persons

• Get the attention of the person before speaking and look at them when speaking.
• Use facial expressions and hand gestures to communicate.
• Use short sentences.
• Use written notes to indicate emergency and instructions, for example, "Fire! Go out rear door now!"
• Check to be sure you are understood.
• Be patient. The person may have difficulty understanding the urgency of your message.
• Be aware that the person may not be able to hear oral commands issued by authorities.

Assisting Persons who are Blind/Low Vision

• During an emergency, announce your presence when entering the person's area.
• Offer your elbow. Do not grab the person’s arm or hand.
• Communicate throughout the evacuation by describing in advance physical barriers or action to be taken such as, “Take two steps down."

Assisting Owners of Service Animals

• Do not pet or offer food or water without the permission of the owner.
• Plan for the service animal to be evacuated with the owner.
• In the event that you are asked to handle the service animal while assisting the individual, hold the leash and not the harness, if present.

Assisting Persons with Learning Disabilities

• During an evacuation, be patient.
• Give instructions slowly and clearly.
• Offer to accompany them as their sense of direction may be limited.
• Encourage the person to practice their evacuation route(s) regularly.

Assisting Persons with Limited Communication

• Look for an instruction card on the person.
• During an evacuation, give clear instructions.
• Maintain eye contact with the individual to insure all directions are heard and understood.

Assisting Persons with Psychological Disabilities

• Understand that the person may have difficulty concentrating, handling stress, and initiating personal contact.
• Help reduce stress during an emergency by offering to escort the person through the evacuation.
• Give clear and simple instructions.

Assisting Persons who are Developmentally Disabled

• Be aware that they may be unable to understand the emergency and could become disoriented or confused about the proper way to react.
• During an evacuation, give instructions slowly and clearly.
• Encourage the person to practice their evacuation route(s) regularly.

Assisting Persons with Medical Conditions

• Offer assistance walking down stairs.
• Find ways to reduce the person's stress, exertion, and exposure to dust or smoke.
• Remind the person to bring medication or inhalers.
• Allow rest periods during evacuation if possible.

Assisting Persons with Mobility Limitations - Non Wheelchair Users

• Do not interfere with person's movement.
• Clear displaced and fallen obstacles from egress routes.
• If the stairs are crowded, you may act as a buffer.

Updated April 29, 2009 by Web Services.