Evacuation Assistance for People with Disabilities

People with disabilities may include students, employees, visitors, or contractors. Some disabilities are not readily apparent, and an individual’s ability to evacuate may vary depending on the building, the emergency, or a temporary injury or medical condition.

All members of the campus community should understand how to offer appropriate assistance without placing themselves or others at risk.

Plan Before an Emergency

Individuals who may need assistance during an evacuation are encouraged to develop a personal emergency evacuation plan before an emergency occurs.

Become familiar with accessible exits, stairways, fire alarm pull stations, areas of refuge, and outdoor assembly areas in buildings you regularly use.
Identify more than one evacuation route whenever possible.
Consider identifying trusted individuals who can provide assistance and backups if those individuals are unavailable.
Discuss building-specific needs with Access Resources, Human Resources, Residential Education, or Campus Safety, as appropriate.
Participate in evacuation drills to determine whether the plan is practical and whether changes are needed.

Requests for evacuation assistance should be handled respectfully and, to the extent possible, confidentially.

General Assistance Guidelines

When assisting someone during an evacuation:

Ask the individual whether assistance is needed and how you can best help.
Listen to and follow the individual’s instructions whenever conditions permit.
Clearly explain what is happening and what you intend to do.
Do not touch, move, lift, or carry a person without permission unless there is an immediate threat to life.
Do not touch or move a wheelchair, mobility device, communication device, service animal, or other personal equipment without permission.
Do not attempt an action that exceeds your training or physical ability.
Remain calm and provide clear, concise directions.
Follow instructions from Campus Safety and emergency responders.

Emergency responders will determine the safest method of rescue or assisted evacuation based on the conditions present.

People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision

Identify yourself and explain the nature of the emergency.
Offer your arm or elbow rather than grabbing or pushing the person.
Describe obstacles, stairs, doorways, changes in elevation, and the direction of travel.
Provide verbal directions to the nearest safe exit and designated assembly area.
Do not separate the individual from a service animal or mobility aid.

People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

A person who is deaf or hard of hearing may not hear an alarm or verbal evacuation instructions.

Gain the person’s attention through a visual signal, gentle tap on the shoulder, written message, text message, or gesture.
Clearly indicate that an evacuation has been ordered.
Point out the safest available exit and accompany the person when assistance is requested.
Continue providing visual or written information as circumstances change.

Do not assume that a person wearing hearing aids or using another assistive device can hear an alarm or announcement.

People With Mobility Disabilities

Individuals who use wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, crutches, canes, or other mobility devices may be able to evacuate independently through an accessible exit. Ask before providing assistance.

Use an accessible evacuation route when one is available and safe.
Do not use a standard passenger elevator during a fire alarm or building evacuation unless emergency responders specifically authorize its use or the elevator is designated for emergency evacuation.
Never attempt to carry someone down stairs or use an evacuation chair unless you are trained, the equipment is appropriate, and conditions permit its safe use.
Keep the individual with their wheelchair or mobility device whenever possible. Do not abandon or separate someone from essential mobility equipment unless remaining with the equipment presents an immediate danger.
Do not attempt a rescue or transfer that could injure the individual or the person assisting.

If an individual cannot safely use the stairs or reach an accessible exit, assist the person to a designated area of refuge or another protected location identified in the building’s evacuation plan, provided the route and location are safe.

An enclosed exit stairway landing may be used only when it is free of smoke and other hazards and the individual will not block the stairway or evacuation route.

Once the person is in a protected location:

Call 9-1-1 and Campus Safety.
Provide the building name, floor, room or stairwell number, and the individual’s specific location.
Describe any immediate hazards and the type of assistance needed.
Confirm that the information has been received.
Report the location directly to arriving emergency responders.

A companion may remain with the individual only when it is safe to do so and consistent with the building’s emergency plan. Otherwise, the companion should evacuate and immediately report the person’s location to emergency responders.

People With Cognitive, Communication, or Other Disabilities

Some individuals may have difficulty recognizing an alarm, understanding instructions, communicating, navigating an unfamiliar route, or responding quickly during a stressful situation.

Use calm, direct, and specific language.
Explain that an emergency is occurring and that the building must be evacuated.
Break instructions into simple steps.
Allow additional time when conditions permit.
Demonstrate the requested action or point to the evacuation route.
Avoid shouting, rapid movements, or unnecessary physical contact.
Remain with the individual until reaching a safe location when assistance is requested and it is safe to do so.

Service Animals

Service animals should remain with their handlers during an evacuation whenever possible.

Do not pet, feed, restrain, lead, or give commands to a service animal.
Ask the handler how you can assist.
Do not intentionally separate the service animal from its handler unless an immediate life-safety threat makes separation unavoidable.
Notify emergency responders if a handler and service animal are awaiting assistance.

After Evacuating

After reaching safety:

Proceed to the designated assembly area.
Remain with the individual when continued assistance is requested and it is safe to do so.
Report anyone believed to remain inside the building and provide their last known location.
Inform emergency responders about any wheelchair, mobility device, medication, communication device, or other essential equipment left inside.
Do not re-enter the building until Campus Safety or emergency responders announce that it is safe.

No faculty member, staff member, student, or visitor is expected to place themselves in danger or perform a rescue beyond their training. When an individual cannot be safely evacuated, immediately report the person’s precise location and assistance needs to 9-1-1, Campus Safety, and responding emergency personnel.