Visually Impaired Persons

Explain the nature of the emergency. Alarms or confusion may disorient a person, even when normally familiar with the area.

1. Guide the student or person with disability (or provide someone to do so). The person will take the guide's arm below the elbow and will follow.
2. Tell the person where you are as you walk.
3. Advise of any obstacles in the path.
4. When you have reached safety: Orient the person to where he or she is and ask if any further assistance is needed before leaving.

Hearing Impaired Persons 

If you must get a person's attention:

1. Flash room lights
2. Wave your arms
3. Tap person's shoulder
4. Gesture what is happening and what to do
5. Write on board or paper: Nature of emergency & evacuation route – show egress route.

Mobility Impaired Persons 

1. Always ask students/disabled person first if they have special needs or requirements.
2. Individuals using wheelchairs can be pushed or accompanied to safety
3. Individuals using canes, crutches, or walkers should evacuate themselves except in the event that rapid evacuation is deemed essential.  If they choose, they may wait at the ARA, offered a chair with sturdy arms, until first responder assistance is available.
4. Call the BEC, USCA Police or other First Responder (emergency phone at the ARA) and wait for help before transferring a person from a wheelchair or transporting a person on a stairway, unless the situation is  imminently life threatening.
5. Special Emergency Evacuation chairs (EEDs) may be used for stairway evacuation or to transport injured or non-ambulatory persons. These are mounted near the stairwell Areas of Rescue Assistance (ARA) in most classroom buildings.