Emergency Evacuation of People with Disabilities

The responsibility for safe evacuation of people with disabilities during an emergency lies with faculty, professional staff, supervisors, and the person with a disability.

Visual Impairments

Most people with visual impairments will be familiar with their immediate surroundings. In an emergency, tell the person with a visual impairment the nature of the emergency and offer to guide him or her to the nearest emergency exit. Have the person take your elbow and escort him or her out of the building. As you walk, tell the person where you are and advise of any obstacles. When you reach safety, orient the person to where he or she is and ask if any further assistance is needed.

Hearing Impairments

Some people with hearing impairments may not perceive emergency alarms and will need to be alerted to the situation. Emergency instructions can be given by gesturing or by a short explicit note. It is appropriate to offer assistance to a hearing-impaired person as you leave the building.

Mobility Impairments

Since elevators should not be used for evacuation during a fire alarm, people with mobility impairments will need assistance evacuating unless they are on a ground floor with accessible exits. As people with mobility impairments have varying degrees of limitations, information is offered for two possible scenarios:

Ambulatory

People with mobility limitations who are ambulatory may be able to negotiate stairs in an emergency situation with minor assistance. Some people who usually use a wheelchair or motorized scooter for long-distance travel may be able to walk i ndependently in an emergency situation. If danger is imminent and the person is able to walk down stairs with some assistance, it is advisable that he or she wait until the heavy traffic has cleared before attempting to evacuate. Someone should walk beside the person to provide assistance, if needed. If it is apparent that there is no immediate danger (absence of smoke or fire), the person may choose to stay in the building until emergency personnel arrive and determine the necessity to evacuate.

In situations of false alarm or a small isolated fire, evacuation of people with mobility impairments may not be necessary at all; however, this decision should be made only by qualified emergency personnel. If emergency personnel determine a need to evacuate, trained rescue workers will assist in the evacuation. Someone should inform emergency personnel of the location of the person with a mobility impairment if he or she chooses to wait in the building.

Non-Ambulatory

Evacuation of non-ambulatory people is much more complicated than that of others. Fire and campus safety experts advise that, as soon as an alarm sounds, wheelchair users proceed to an enclosed stairwell if possible. If an enclosed stairwell is not available, they should go into a room just off the hallway or corridor and close the door until emergency personnel arrive and determine the necessity of evacuation. Someone should be designated to go outside and inform emergency personnel of the non-ambulatory person's location. Whenever possible, someone should remain in the facility with the non- ambulatory person.

To reduce the risk of personal injury, attempts to carry mobility-impaired people are discouraged and should not be attempted by anyone other than trained emergency personnel, except in the most extreme emergency. Again, in case of a false alarm or a small isolated fire, it may not be necessary to risk a complicated evacuation, but only qualified emergency personnel should make such a decision.

People on respirators should be given priority assistance in emergencies involving smoke or fumes because their ability to breathe is seriously jeopardized.

Emergency Telephone Numbers:

UTSA Police Dispatch, 458-4242

UTSA Student Health Services, 458-4142

UTSA Counseling Services, 458-4140