Emergencies are an unfortunate fact of the unpredictable world we inhabit. A startling statistic from a study done between 2011 and 2015 found that 5,750 fires happen in medical and healthcare facilities every year. A statistic that’s been declining, it still sheds light on the need for the proper evacuation protocol in spaces where some evacuees will require assistance.<\/p>\n
Evacuation chairs are pieces of emergency evac equipment that too many building administrators know very little about. In previous posts, we’ve keyed in on the importance of well-designed emergency exit procedures. One of them is the safe evacuation of all parties, particularly people with disabilities.<\/p>\n
Handicap evacuation chairs and evacuation stair chairs come with questions applicable to emergency protocols that we hope you never have to use. However, those questions are important to have answered in order to bolster preparation in the face of the uncertainty of potential emergencies. Let’s explore some.<\/p>\n
The terms are self-defining, but they specifically apply to people with varying disabilities. Emergencies call for timely action and certain disabilities render people unable to move with the urgency that evacuation demands. Evacuation chairs are in place to give access to people with disabilities to be swiftly aided in the evacuation process.<\/p>\n
In a word, yes. Just like buildings are accessible to people with disabilities, that accessibility must translate to emergency situations. Where there are stairs, multiple levels should have visibly marked, easily accessible evacuation chairs. This guarantees that, in the case of an emergency, everyone in your building has equal access to safe and timely evacuation.<\/p>\n
Though simple in theory, you should practice the use of evacuation chairs and have periodic training about their proper utilization. They’re collapsable chairs that secure people with disabilities and allow for easy use of stairs and generally speedy mobility when a building needs to be evacuated swiftly. Because emergencies can be psychologically stressful, it’s important that building staff and administrators remain familiar with how they work, so there’s no doubt if\/when they ever need to be used.<\/p>\n