For several years now our society has invested a considerable amount of time and energy into increasing the accessibility of our buildings, institutions, parks, shopping centres and just about every other space, and well we should.
When we make a place accessible for a person with a disability we make it easily accessible for everyone, whether young or old, able or disabled. For all of the positive steps we have made toward removing barriers there are many more that need to be taken, fortunately we’re on the right course.
One area that is often overlooked is the proverbial flip side of the accessibility coin, egress or evacuation.
Whether your emergency plan is for a high-rise building or a county fair it should include a clear and concise evacuation procedure that is intuitive and barrier free. As the number of people with disabilities and mobility concerns continues to increase the need for emergency managers to take an active role in developing accessible evacuation plans will become even more crucial.
Well lit, well signed and barrier free evacuation routes will help everybody to get out safely but is that enough? When was your last evacuation drill? What can you do to ensure evacuation routes are maintained and protected? What accommodations must be made to ensure those with mobility restrictions can get out? How will you know if everybody got out? Of those who are unaccounted for, where should searchers begin looking?
For the answer to these questions all you have to do is go to the centre of your facility and try to find your way out. Oh, and don’t forget that you’ll need to be blindfolded, with your ankles tied together, one hand tied behind your back, the fingers of your other hand taped together, pushing a baby carriage while breathing through a straw. On second thought it may be easier to hire a professional emergency manager to develop your next evacuation plan.
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