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Emergency Evacuation Procedures

Consult the red Handbook of Emergency Management Guidelines prepared by Teachers College in May 1999. When a Fire Alarm Sounds:

1. Begin evacuating the building immediately.
2. Designated personnel will call Campus Police to report fire alarms.
3. Department heads (or their designee) will check their areas of the building and then report to the building director, at a predetermined location outside of the building.
4. If a mobility impaired person(s) is located in the building on a floor that is not accessible directly to the outside, the following procedures should be followed.
• DO NOT USE THE ELEVATOR
• The appropriate staff member shall stay with the person until relieved by emergency response personnel.
• If necessary move the person horizontally away from danger.
• Emergency response personnel will be responsible for evacuating disabled persons.
• The Department head or designee will report the location of the person to the Building Director.
• The Building Director will report the location to emergency response personnel.
5. The Building Director will report to emergency response personnel any people remaining in the building and any other information pertinent to the situation.
6. The building will not be reoccupied until emergency response personnel determine the building safe.

When a Tornado Alarm Sounds:

1. 1. University Staff shall instruct building occupants to proceed in a calm and orderly manner to the designated shelter area.
2. 2. Keep away from exterior doors, windows, and areas with large ceiling spans.

*NOTE: Shelter areas should be located on basement or ground floors. Avoid areas near exterior windows and doors, and areas with large ceiling spans.

Emergency Evacuation of Persons with Physical Disabilities

Ground Floor

On a ground level floor, persons with physical disabilities should evacuate via accessible exits along with the other occupants of the building.

Above or Below Ground Floor

VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Most persons with visual impairments will be familiar with their immediate surroundings. In the event of an emergency, tell the person with a visual impairment the nature of the emergency and offer to guide the person to the nearest emergency exit. Have the person take your elbow and escort him/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/she is and ask if any further assistance is needed.

HEARING IMPAIRED

Most buildings on campus are not yet equipped with visual alarms. Some persons with hearing impairments may not perceive audio emergency alarms and will need to be alerted to the situation by gestures or by turning the light switch off and on. Emergency instructions can be given by verbalizing or mouthing, or by a short, explicit note. Example: Fire alarm - go out south doors - now!

It is appropriate to offer assistance to a hearing impaired person as you leave the building.

MOBILITY IMPAIRED

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

Ambulatory

Persons with mobility impairments who are able to walk independently, either with or without the use of crutches or a cane, may be able to negotiate stairs in an emergency situation with minor assistance. Even some persons who customarily use a wheelchair or scooter for long distance travel may be able to walk independently in an emergency situation. If danger is imminent and the person is able to walk down the stairs with some assistance, it is advisable that they wait until the heavy traffic has cleared before they attempt to evacuate. Someone should walk beside them to provide assistance, if needed. If it is apparent that there is no immediate danger (obvious 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 persons with mobility impairments may not be necessary at all; however, this decision should be made only by qualified emergency personnel. If emergency personnel determine there is a need to evacuate a person, trained rescue workers will assist in the evacuation. Someone should alert emergency personnel as to the location of the person with a mobility impairment if that person chooses to wait in the building.

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

Non-Ambulatory

Evacuation of non-ambulatory persons is much more complicated than that of others. In keeping with current philosophy and preference to "stay in place," the most recent advice from fire and campus safety experts is that unless danger is imminent, a wheelchair user should remain in a room until emergency rescue personnel arrive and determine the necessity for their evacuation. A specific person should be designated to go outside and inform emergency personnel of the disabled person's location. Whenever possible, someone should remain in the facility with the person who is disabled. However, if a non-ambulatory person chooses to evacuate (and if appropriate assistance is available) then the person should be assisted from the building.

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.

In the event of immediate danger (e.g. Fire, smoke, etc.) it is advisable for the wheelchair user to move horizontally within the facility to a safer area. Go to a room with an exterior window and telephone, and wait (with the doors closed) for the rescue personnel to arrive. Only in situations of extreme danger should untrained people attempt to manually evacuate wheelchair users. Doing so may involve dangers of its own, especially if there is limited assistance or if multiple floors are involved. There is additional risk if the person has quadriplegia with limited neck, arm and trunk control; if spasticity is factor; or if apparatuses such as respirators, catheters, etc. Are involved. It is never save to move someone by lifting a wheelchair down the stairs. Wheelchairs can be extremely heavy, and have many moveable parts and vulnerable points that are not constructed to withstand the stress of lifting.

Again, while it is best to let professional emergency personnel (firefighters with oxygen equipment) conduct the evacuation, a person with a mobility impairment can be carried by two people who have interlocked their arms to form a "chair", or by carrying the person in a sturdy office chair in the case of extreme emergency.

NOTE: The person with the disability is the best authority about how to be moved.