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Evacuation Procedures for Students with Disabilities
In all emergencies, after an evacuation has been ordered, the following applies:
Check on people with special needs during an evacuation. A "buddy system," where people with disabilities arrange for volunteers (CFs/neighbors/classmates) to alert them and assist them in an emergency, is a good method.
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.
Evacuate or assist people with disabilities to get to the nearest stairwell if possible. Enclosed stairwells in modern buildings are designed to be fireproof for up to two (2) hours.
DO NOT use elevators, unless directed to do so by police or fire personnel. If the evacuation has been ordered due to a fire, elevators could fail during a fire. Police or fire personnel will know if the elevators can be used.
If the situation is life threatening, call 4-6111 for UPD at Foggy Bottom or 2-6111 for UPD at Mount Vernon Campus from a campus telephone or 911 for the Metropolitan Police Department from a pay telephone.
Attempt a rescue evacuation ONLY if you have had rescue training or the person is in immediate danger and cannot wait for professional assistance.
Power Outages:
If an outage occurs during the day and people with disabilities choose to wait in the building for electricity to be restored, they can move near a window where there is natural light and access to a working telephone. During regular building hours, a staff or faculty member should be notified so they can advise emergency personnel.
If people would like to leave or an evacuation has been ordered or if the outage occurs at night, call UPD at 4-6111 from a campus telephone to request evacuation assistance or move to the nearest stairwell in the building.
Some multi-button campus telephones may not operate in a power outage, but single-line telephones and pay telephones are likely to operate. As soon as information is available, the campus emergency information line 994-5050 will have a recorded message stating when power is likely to be restored.
Police and Fire Department personnel will check all stairwells to look for people who need assistance in evacuating the building.
AIDING PERSONS WITH SPECIFIC DISABILITIES IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
Blindness or Visual Impairment
Give verbal instructions to advise about safest route or direction using compass directions, estimated distances, and directional landmarks.
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., move to the stairwell, elevators cannot be used, etc.).
Deafness or Hearing Loss
Get the attention of a person with a hearing disability by touch and eye contact. 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 stairwell exits or evacuation maps.
Mobility Impairment
It may be necessary to help clear the exit route of debris (if possible) so that the person with a disability can exit to a safer area.
If people with mobility impairments cannot exit, they should move to a safer area such as the nearest stairwell. If that is not possible, they should move to an office or other room with the door shut which is a good distance from the hazard.
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. They may determine that it is safe to override the general 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.
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