Disability Assistance

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Try to avoid evacuating people who use wheelchairs while they are still in their wheelchairs.  This is standard practice to ensure the safety of people with disabilities and volunteers.  Wheelchairs will be evacuated later if possible.

 Proper lifting techniques (e.g. bending the knees, keeping the back straight, holding the person close before lifting, and using leg muscles to lift) should be used to avoid injury to rescuer’s backs.  Certain lifts may need to be modified, depending on the disabilities of the people. 

    Tips to remember when interacting with people with specific disabilities

    Blindness or Visual Impairment

•    Provide verbal instructions to advise of the safest route or direction using simple directions, estimated distances, and directional terms.
•    DO NOT grasp a visually impaired person’s arm.  Ask if he or she would like to hold onto your arm as you exit, especially if there is debris or a crowd.
•    Give other verbal instructions or information (i.e. elevators cannot be used).

    Deafness or Hearing Impairment

• Get the attention of a person with a hearing impairment by establishing eye contact. If the person’s back is toward you, tap him/her on the shoulder to get his/her attention.    Clearly state the problem.  Gestures and pointing are helpful, but be prepared to write a brief statement if the person does not seem to understand.
• Offer visual instructions to advise of safest route or direction by pointing toward exits or evacuation maps.

     Mobility Impairment

• It may be necessary to help clear the exit route of debris (if possible).
• If people with mobility impairments cannot exit, they should move to a safer area, e.g. most enclosed stairwells, an office with the door shut which is a good distance from the hazard (and away from falling debris in the case of earthquakes).
• Call 911 or notify police or fire personnel immediately about any people remaining in the building and their locations.
• Police or fire personnel will decide whether people are safe where they are, and will evacuate them as necessary.  The Fire Department may determine that it is safe to override the rule against using elevators.

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.