Emergency Evacuation Preparedness: Taking Responsibility For Your Safety A Guide For People with Disabilities and Other Activity Limitations

Determine Your Evacuation Options When Traveling

When staying in hotels/motels/cruise ships and other lodging facilities:

• When you have a choice, do you think about whether you want the view or the safety of a lower floor? If you have difficulty using stairs, do you ask for a guest room on a lower floor? Do you identify yourself to registration staff as a person who will need assistance in an emergency and state the type of assistance you may need?

• If you have a significant hearing loss, do you ask for a room equipped with visual alarms that are connected to the fire alarm system, and other notification devices (for doors and telephones)?  These devices alert guests by way of blinking and strobe lights to fire alarms, telephone calls and to persons knocking on the door and/or ringing the doorbell. While visual alarms must be connected to the fire alarm system, other notification devices (for doors and telephones) may be provided in kits available at the lodging facility's registration desk.

• Do you check exit routes on the back of guest room doors and familiarize yourself with the exits (by tracking the escape route, noting the number of doors between your room and the emergency exit)?  Maps may be confusing unless you check them out.