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Nobody knows when a disaster may strike, but if you are prepared ahead of time, you will be better able to cope. Have you ever thought about what you would do in case of an emergency? If you have a disability, preparations may need to be more detailed and may be more difficult to accomplish. While it can be scary to think about emergency situations, the more prepared you are to handle an unexpected crisis, the better. Education and planning before a disaster happens is the key. Take a few minutes to consider what you can do to be the best prepared for an emergency that you can be. Consider four environments in your planning: 1) your home; 2) your work setting; 3) all other buildings, and 4) the environment outdoors. Take responsibility for your safety.
Fire
Safety
This website provides information that is useful to the general
public but was written for a student on campus and is not specific
to disability. The following topics are covered: how fires start,
how fires are classified, how to prevent fires, when not to fight
a fire, how to identify the proper fire extinguisher, how to use
a portable fire extinguisher, how to extinguish small fires, how
to inspect your fire extinguisher, how to create an emergency
action plan, how to evacuate a burning building, what to do if
trapped in a burning building, and what to do if someone catches
on fire.
Fire is one major cause of accidental death. A fire can start in many different ways. The Fire Department has a classification system consisting of four classes of fire based on its cause.
Class
A:
Class A fires are a result of ordinary combustibles or fibrous
material such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and some plastics.
This type of fire can be prevented in different ways such as keeping
work areas free of trash and keeping paper, cloth, rubber, and
plastic away from fire sources such as a stove or heater. If a
small fire starts, however, try to extinguish it, if possible,
by cooling the material below its ignition temperature and soaking
the fibers to prevent re-ignition.
USE: Use pressurized water, foam or multi-purpose (ABC-rated) dry chemical extinguishers. You should not use carbon dioxide or ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical extinguishers on Class A fires.
Class
B:
Class B fires result from flammable liquids or gases such as gasoline,
paint, alcohol, rubbing alcohol, and nail removing acetone. It
is very important to keep flammable liquids stored in tightly
closed spill-proof containers in well-ventilated areas. Don't
refuel gasoline-powered equipment in a confined space, especially
in the presence of an open flame such as a furnace or water heater.
Never refuel gasoline-powered equipment while it is hot.
USE: If a small Class B fire starts, you can extinguish it by using foam, carbon dioxide, ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical, multi-purpose dry chemical. Halon extinguishers may be used to fight Class B fires.
Class
C:
Class C fires result from energized electrical equipment such
as appliances, switches, panel boxes, and power tools. To prevent
such a fire, look for old wiring, worn insulation, and broken
electrical fittings. Also, make sure that utility lights always
have some type of wire guard over them because heat from an uncovered
light bulb can easily ignite ordinary combustibles. Be suspicious
and carefully investigate any appliance or electrical equipment
that smells strange because unusual odors can be the first sign
of a fire. Never overload wall outlets; two outlets should never
have more than two plugs.
USE: If a Class C fire starts, use carbon dioxide, ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical, and multi-purpose dry chemical and halon fire extinguishers to fight Class C fires. Never use water extinguishers on energized electrical fires because they are capable of conducting electrical current.
Class
D:
Class D fires are due to certain combustible metals, such as magnesium,
titanium, potassium and sodium. This class of fire rarely takes
place at home.
For more information, contact your local Fire Department.
University
of Oklahoma Police Department
Police Notebook: Fire Safety
http://www.ou.edu/oupd/fireprim.htm
Disabled
Person’s Safety At Home
People with disabilities can significantly increase their chances
of surviving a fire by practicing proven fire safety precautions.
Disability can make a person more vulnerable when a fire occurs.
Decreased mobility, sight, or hearing loss may limit a person’s
ability to take the quick actions needed to escape a fire. Depending
on the physical limitation, help may be needed from another person(s)
to reach safety.
Make certain that smoke alarms are positioned in key places throughout the home such as hallways directly outside the bedroom. Make sure that smoke detectors are working properly. Batteries should be tested often to make certain they are working. If the smoke detectors in your home are hardwired, make sure that at least one of them has battery back-up. Smoke detectors should be placed at the highest level of the house.
If your home is equipped with a fireplace, it is recommended the chimney is cleaned after each two cords of wood, especially if it is used often.
If you have a disability, think about how your disability may affect your response to a fire emergency and talk it over with others. Make sure that your planned escape route is free of any obstructions. The key is to plan ahead so you are prepared to act if an emergency occurs. Make an escape plan and practice because during a fire, every second counts. It is important to involve the assistance of your family, friend, neighbor, personal care assistant, or building manager when practicing your escape plan so everyone is informed. You should know at least two exists from your home or building. If you use a walker or wheelchair, however, check all exits to make sure your wheelchair fits through the doorways and is free of stairs or can negotiate the stairs. If you can, practice opening locked or barred doors and windows. If you have a mobility impairment, you may wish to consider having your bedroom on the ground floor as near as possible to an exit.
Your local fire department can help you make an escape plan, perform a fire safety inspection, and offer advice on alarm placement and maintenance. To explain your specific needs and get ideas, contact your local fire department on a non-emergency telephone number.
If a fire starts at your home, close the door of the room where the fire is located, if possible, and close all doors behind you as you leave. Closing doors behind you will help delay the spread of the fire and smoke. Before opening a closed door, use the back of your hand to touch it. Don’t open it if it feels warm - the fire will be on the other side. Try to leave your home immediately and as fast as possible; don’t waste time saving property. Try not to panic, and once you are out, stay out.
Evacuation
Suggestions For Disabled People With Mobility Impairments
These evacuation suggestions can be very helpful in case of a
fire at home, in your work setting, or in any building.
If you use a wheelchair and have full upper body mobility, lean your chest and head forward as low as possible in the wheelchair to protect your respiratory system from toxic fumes and smoke.
If you are a quadriplegic with limited hand and arm mobility and living independently in the community, make sure that you have an exit door that leads to the outside with a fireproof ramp for escape. Breathing may be a problem if smoke or fumes fill the room. It is a good idea to practice drills periodically for your safety.
If you are a person who uses a walker or braces and are able to stand for a limited time unaided, try to get down on the floor and crawl. You can practice dragging your assistive devices with you, but the main effort is to get yourself out of the building first.
If you are cut-off by a fire, it is very important to try to remain calm. If you are unable to use the door because of flames or smoke, close the door behind you and use towels or sheets, if possible, to block any gaps. This will help stop smoke spreading into the room. Try to make your way to the window. If the room becomes smoky, crawl along the floor where it’s easier to breathe because smoke rises. Open the window and try to attract the attention of others who can alert the Fire Department. The presence of smoke is a major problem encountered by occupants attempting to evacuate a building in which there is a fire. Smoke particles can obscure visibility and make it difficult to recognize familiar landmarks. Carbon monoxide can disorient and kill a person exposed to smoke.
HELPU
Fire and Life Safety
757-221-0542
http://www.helpusafety.org/preparednessmitigation.html
http://www.helpusafety.org/preparednessmitigation/considerations.html
Safety At Work Setting And In Other Buildings
Elevators
Warning signs next to elevators indicate they should not be used
in case of fire. because they are not safe. Signs clearly say.
“Do not use elevators in case of fire. Use emergency stairs
instead.” A long-standing policy exists that all persons
should use the stairs in case of an emergency; yet, stairs may
not be an option for some wheelchair users. You may wonder why
elevators are not safe. Elevators shut down, have unreliable power
supplies, elevator shafts are vulnerable to smoke, and people
can become trapped between floors are a few reasons to avoid elevators.
In addition, special attention is given to the protection and
operation of elevators to ensure their availability to fire fighters
in an emergency.
Things
to Know When Entering a Building
When you enter a building for the first time, you should automatically
look around and form a mental picture to become familiar with
entrances and exits, fire alarms, and extinguishers. This can
be helpful and life saving in case of an emergency. In case of
a fire, earthquake, or any other disaster, the way you came in
may not be the same way you leave the building. The entrance you
first came in may be blocked by fire. It is important to locate
telephones in the building so you can call for assistance in case
you get trapped somewhere in the building. An emergency floor
plan is worth looking at if it is available for more details of
the building.
Communication:
Assertiveness Skills
Practice how to quickly and concisely explain to someone else
how to move you safely and rapidly. Be prepared to give clear,
specific, and to the point instructions and directions to rescue
personnel. Practice giving instructions so you are prepared to
use the fewest words possible as quickly as possible because time
is crucial. If you are a wheelchair user and are being lifted
from your wheelchair, be prepared to tell where you can be safely
lifted and which parts come off the wheelchair when lifted. If
you are a wheelchair user and need to be separated from your wheelchair
in order to reach safety, practice giving instructions on the
best way to remove you without forgetting to detach a seatbelt,
catheter, ventilator, etc.
In the workplace, meet with your supervisor to discuss what plans your business has for emergencies. Ask what provisions have been made to assist you in an emergency. Discuss what measures you may have to take in case of an emergency. Discuss what you will need for an evacuation plan, where emergency equipment is located, where you will be evacuated to, and where designated meeting places are. Establish two evacuation routes in case the primary route is blocked. Find a secure place to store things that can be easily accessed in case of an emergency.
Preparedness
for People with Disabilities
The American Red Cross provides a web site, " Preparedness Information for Seniors & People with Disabilities." It contains a pdf file of a booklet prepared with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) that contains comprehensive information on emergency
preparedness in the event of a disaster. The site also has links to information to other preparedness information, e.g. animal safety, financial preparation. The information helps you plan today
and offers tips on how to stay safe both during and after a disaster.
You will need to download Adobe pdf Reader to view this booklet.
Preparedness Information for Seniors & People with Disabilities
Tip sheet with check off list for earthquake preparedness
Tips for People With Disabilities
The Independent
Living Resource Center in San Francisco has a series of tip sheets with emergency preparedness information for people with various disabilities. There are templates and check lists for disabilities such as mobility, hearing, visual impairments. There are links to these sheets toward the bottom of the Publication page. http://www.ilrcsf.org/resources/publications.shtml The Publication page also includes other valuable publications for those with disabilities.
Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco
649 Mission Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105-4128
(415) 543-6222
Fax (415) 543-6318 - TTY 543-6698
Email: info@ilrcsf.org
The
Community Preparedness Website Project
This website provides disaster preparedness information on earthquakes,
storms, and power outages for people with disabilities. The
information can be accessed in six languages besides English. While the
information was developed by community-based organizations affected
by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in northern California, it
can be useful to everyone throughout the country. The information
includes tips on emergency preparedness, planning for basic medical
needs, planning for people who use life support systems, earthquake
tips for owners of service animals and pets, etc.
http://www.preparenow.org
http://www.preparenow.org/english.html
Disaster
Preparedness For People With Disabilities
This site gives people with disabilities practical tips to improve
emergency preparedness in case of a disaster. While the Tip Sheets
focus on earthquakes, they have applicability to all types of
disaster preparedness.
http://www.jik.com
http://www.jik.com/disaster.html
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires workplaces, public accommodations, and commercial facilities to be accessible to persons with disabilities. Recent emphasis has been on removing physical barriers that prevent access and participation to providing access to public and private facilities so everyone can get in. At the same time, a person with a disability should have a safe means of evacuation out of the building in case of an emergency. When there is a fire, for example, elevators shut down.
People with disabilities who live or work on the second story or above need to take an active role in developing an evacuation plan. Discuss your concern and work with your employer or owner/manager in designing a plan. You can suggest exploring the purchase of an evacuation device. There are several evacuation devices available on the market to help people with mobility impairments to move quickly down stairs. Both the disabled person and others who are willing to provide assistance should be trained on operating an evacuation device.
EVAC+CHAIR:
This evacuation chair weighs 18 pounds and has a 300-lb carrying
capacity.
EVAC+CHAIR
Corporation
PO Box 2396
New York, NY 10021
212-734-6222
http://www.evac-chair.com
EVACU-TRAC
EVACU-TRAC is designed so that an average size assistant can move
a much larger passenger down the stairs. A passenger transfers
from their wheelchair to a sling seat. Rubber tracks grip the
stairs and a safety brake can stop the unit on the stairs. The
Evacu-Trac is self-supporting on flat surfaces and during descent.
It has a 360-lb. carrying capacity.
MAX-Ability,
Inc.
1275 Fourth Street, Suite 304
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
800-577-1555
707-575-5558
http://www.garaventa.ca/et/index.html
Rescue
Chairs
Rescue Chairs enable transportation of an individual in an emergency
down or up stairs. They are designed for use in buildings and
emergency vehicles. They have 300-lb. carrying capacity.
AOK
Global Products, Ltd.
90 Jefryn Blvd.
Deer Park, New York, 11729
800-649-4265
http://www.rescuechair.com/index.html
Scalamobil
Scalamobil is a battery operated portable stair climber that attaches
to most manual folding wheelchairs. This device can ascend or
descend almost any type of stair from spiral staircases to wood
or stone step surfaces. Both children and adults can use it. No
modifications or installation to existing building structures
is required. Scalamobil can be stored when not in use. Scalamobil
weighs 56 pounds and can carry a maximum load of 265 pounds up
300 steps on one battery charge.
With four rotating wheels at the base of the unit, Scalamobil moves up and down steps with an adjustable speed control or step-by-step function. Each wheel is equipped with a safety brake that automatically stops at the edge of every step. This patented braking system ensures the safety of both the operator and the rider.
Frank
Mobility Systems, Inc.
1003 International Drive
Oakdale, PA 15071
888-426-8581
http://www.frankmobility.com
Ferno
Rescue Seat, Evacuation Chairs, and Cots
These are adjustable, portable devices that position individuals
and enable maneuvering through narrow hallways, elevators, and
other confined spaces. They typically have a 350-lb. carrying
capacity.
Ferno-Washington,
Inc.
70 Weil Way
Wilmington, OH 45177
800-733-3766
http://emergency.ferno.com/sub_category.aspx
LifeSlider
LifeSlider is an emergency evacuation device. LifeSlider is designed
for use in high-rises, skyscrapers, office buildings, hotels,
motels, hospitals, apartment buildings, schools, colleges, universities
or any multi-storied building. It is a flat-bottomed, toboggan-like
device that slides down stairs, around landings, through small
doorways, around inside corners, and across pavement.
LifeSlider,
Inc.
25553 61st Road
Arkansas City, KS 67005
888-442-4543
http://www.lifeslider.com
