Guide For Evacuating People With Disabilities

When an emergency alarm sounds, or if you're told to evacuate the building, get out - regardless of your situation. Just because you can't see the danger, doesn't mean it doesn't exist or won't hurt you. There may not be time to tell everyone the nature of the emergency. If you ignore the alert and elect to stay in your office, you're putting yourself, and emergency rescue people, in danger.

• Never stay in a building after an evacuation alarm sounds.
• Never take an elevator during an emergency evacuation.
• Know where the nearest exit, fire alarm manual station, and fire extinguisher are located.
• Don't panic.
• If you have a cell phone or pager, keep it with you.

Helping Someone With a Disability

What should you do if you have a disability or if you want to help someone with a disability during an emergency situation? If you know what to do in an emergency, you'll be less likely to panic. Here are some tips:

• Meet with your supervisor to find out what people with disabilities should do to get out of the building during an emergency. In addition, learn where there is an alternate route out of the building if the primary exit is blocked.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, strobe lights and vibrating pagers can tell you that you need to leave the building.
• If you use a wheelchair or have mobility disabilities, you should have access to a special telephone to use to call for instructions. Evacu-Track chairs can be used to take people down stairs. Emergency teams are trained to use these chairs.
• Never let go of your service animal, if you use one. That animal is your lifeline.
• Consider using a buddy system, where a co-worker is responsible for helping get out of the building safely. If the person with the disability chooses to use a buddy, he or she must train the buddy to help. The buddy needs to be familiar with the guide dog or other service animal so that they don't waste valuable time trying to form a working relationship during the emergency. Get and train a back-up buddy, in case the primary buddy is unavailable.
• Practice getting out of the building using one of the emergency exit routes every six months. That way you won't forget the procedures and if you have a service animal, the animal will be accustomed to the route.
• When the emergency alarm sounds, if you have a service animal, always leave the building. If you don't, your service animal will learn to disregard the alarm.
• If you work in a different area for an extended time, get a temporary buddy.

  -- Denise Decker and Marci Hilt, Agriculture Department