To assist the evacuation of students using wheelchairs, do the following:

If the office is on the first floor, all occupants should leave the building via the nearest safe exit.

If the office is not on the first floor, or if the safest exit involves stairs, and Public Safety is not yet on site to evacuate those who use wheelchairs, identify two or more volunteers who will be able to assist the person in the wheelchair. *The person in the wheelchair may be rolled down the stairs, otherwise, with the person’s permission, the person may be lifted from the chair and carried down the stairs. Public Safety will determine whether the wheelchair should be left or removed from the building.

*Careful consideration should be given to the type of wheelchair the person is in. The motorized wheelchairs in use may have two or more batteries. In addition, the motors to drive them are extremely heavy and difficult to maneuver down stairs. Mishandling these types of wheelchairs in an emergency situation may result in additional injury to the person in the chair and the person/s assisting with the evacuation. If the student is in a motorized wheelchair, explain to that person you have to remove them from the wheelchair in order to evacuate them safely.

To assist the evacuation of students who are blind, deaf, have a significant visual impairment, or have a significant hearing impairment, a neurological disorder, a psychiatric disability, or use assistive mobility items (walkers, canes, crutches, etc.), do the following:

Please escort or ask for a volunteer to escort the person with a disability to ensure his or her safe departure of the building. If you are escorting this person, do not leave this person unattended. If you have to leave this person, make sure there is someone else there to assist/escort until they have reached an area that is considered safe or to the appropriate meeting site outside of the building.

IMPORTANT!! DO NOT USE ELEVATORS FOR EVACUATION PURPOSES.

After everyone has left the office, CLOSE THE DOOR.
If alarm is not already ringing, PULL THE FIRE ALARM.
If Public Safety is not already on site, CALL 3-5611.

If it is impossible to leave the building, direct everyone to the nearest safe stairwell. The corridors and stairwells are fire rated. They should be able to withstand any fire for one – three hours. This will provide ample time for rescue if exiting the building is not possible. If conditions require that you and the students remain in the office, close the door to the office. If there are windows in the office, try to wave a coat, t-shirt or similar large object out a window to gain attention and be easily located. If there are no windows in the office, call 953-5611 for help.