Emergency ABC - Ten Thoughts to Ponder when Creating an Escape Plan for Disabled People

Ten Thoughts to Ponder when Creating an Escape Plan for Disabled People

Many families prepare for a potential disaster, such as a fire, by creating escape plans. They may sit down and together figure out how to get out of the home. They may plan a standard place for the family to meet once they are out and may even install window ladders for fire safety reasons. Disabled people and their family members may find this task more challenging then most however. Disabled people can often move about their home with no trouble. However, they may not be able to do so at a fast pace. When it comes to disasters like a fire, being fast can mean the difference between life and death. When creating an escape plan for disabled people, consider these then thoughts.

Preparation

The best thing you can do when you have a disabled person in your family is to think ahead. By thinking ahead, you will be more prepared for any disaster that may come your way. If you

don't try to consider what to do if various situations occur, you will likely have no idea what you should do and the disabled person will suffer because of it. Think about several possible scenarios and create plans accordingly.

Accessibility

If you live with a disabled person you understand the challenges they face daily. It may be a difficult task just to get through the hallway. Do everything you can to widen areas for easier accessibility. This will help your family quickly get the disabled member out safely if needed.

Location

When trying to think of an adequate escape plan, you should always consider where you might be when a disaster strikes. Although it is impossible to determine where everyone will be, having an escape route from every room will help you prepare for anything. When including disabled people in the mix, you will need to think about things a little differently. You may want to rearrange furniture for faster exit or create wider doorways.

Time

Time is one thing that you can not afford when dealing with a fire. To help disabled people in your home get out quickly, consider practicing an evacuation. It may be frustrating, but it can help them get out faster and it can help you understand what may need to be changed to help them along.

Custom Made Chutes

If you have a partially immobile person in your home, consider installing a chute for easy evacuation. The person basically must make it to the chute and then "slide" down it like a slide to an outdoor area. These can be attached to windows for easy use in case of disaster.

Alarms Making sure you have alarms in your home that function properly is a very important part of an escape plan. They are crucial because they are the main triggers to your family and any disabled members that they need to start moving out of the house. The faster these alarms signal, the more time a disabled person has to get out.

Crawl Ways

Some disabled people are quite good at crawling. In some cases, crawling is certainly the best way to exit as well, such as during a fire. When devising your escape route, consider putting door knobs lower so that when you are crawling you can still open doors if needed. This may keep a disabled person from being trapped in a room.

House Layout

If you do have a disabled person in your home, consider changing the layout of your residence. This does not have to be expensive. It can simply mean switching various rooms. For instance, you may have den area downstairs that would be easier for a disabled person to escape from than an upstairs bedroom. By switching the furniture and creating a bedroom out of the den, you will have automatically made it easier for the disabled person to escape if need be.

Animal Training

If the person in your home is benefited by an animal due to blindness or deafness, strongly consider making this animal part of your plan of escape. Animals of this educational level can be trained easily to assist the disabled individual in disasters. The animals do need to be trained however to recognize disastrous situations however.

Emergency Phones

One of the easiest things to do is place an emergency phone near the disabled person. If they are able to use the phone, they can quickly call for help if they cannot escape. This should be something all disabled people have near them in any case. The phone should never be moved, or should be attached to the disabled person if they are mobile.

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◦ How to Raise Awareness for Emergency and Disaster Preparation
◦ How to Talk to Your Child about Disaster Preparation
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◦ Importance of Water in an Emergency or Disaster
◦ Insure Against Disaster - Re-Evaluate your Disaster Policies
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