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

Walk Through Procedures

Recommend that a portion of staff meetings be devoted to discuss and practice separate parts of a plan. This allows you and your colleagues to concentrate efforts on the particular parts of the plan and particular individuals requiring more extensive practice. This time can be used, for example, to practice evacuation techniques, methods of transferring in and out of evacuation devices, carrying techniques, use of evacuation devices, and use of two-way communication systems in areas of rescue.  It is critical that members of an emergency response team (e.g., fire wardens, floor monitors) be involved in this practice. This is also a way of introducing new people to important parts of the plan.  (United States Fire Administration 1995)

Innovative educational techniques such as role-playing or the use of audio‑visual aids can also be helpful.

Don't assume you'll know how to use the evacuation chair when you need it. Make sure you and your support network practices using it.

Know how to get to all the exits. Practice this as part of your regular drills.

Know how to report safety hazards (i.e. fire extinguishers that need servicing, exits which are not kept clear, furniture and other items that block barrier‑free passages).

Teach your support network how to operate your equipment in an emergency (for example, how to disengage the gears of a power wheelchair).

If you are hard of hearing or deaf, practice having co-workers communicate important information to you through gestures.

If you are blind have co-workers practice guiding you.

If you use a service animal be sure you include the animal in all drills.

When there are people whose knowledge of English may be limited, training should cover techniques so they are understood and can be practiced without additional translation (pictures, simple plan language).