Emergency Response for Persons with Disabilities

Emergency Preparedness is an important component to the safety and security of all campus users.  Being prepared for any type of emergency will assist with minimizing the negative impact that emergency can have on people.  Each individual person is responsible for their own well-being, safety and security.  Knowing in advance what you should do for your own safety is key – in an emergency there will likely be little time to become knowledgeable with how to react.  During a serious emergency, support from both internal and external services may be limited due to the magnitude of the emergency. 

 

All individuals requiring special evacuation assistance are encouraged to self-identify to their professor, their supervisor, Accessibility Services, residence staff and to trusted colleagues within the area of work.  Advising others of restrictions will provide better preparation during an evacuation. 

 

Make your environment safe – remove tripping hazards, clear pathways, submit work orders for lighting repairs, etc.

 

 Know the layout of the building – locate connecting buildings and know where the fire separations are, identify stairwells, identify your exits, identify the evacuation marshalling area.

 

Consider the types of emergencies that could occur and determine your plan.

 

During an evacuation it is recommended that individuals with mobility restrictions should relocate to the nearest location that allows movement into another adjacent building where connected buildings exist. For example move from the Classroom Building into the Arts Building.  

 

 If in a stand-alone building move to the nearest safe stairwell.  Stairwells are equipped with fire rated doors and fire rated walls to allow for safe evacuation.  This area will provide a safe area until an evacuation is required to take place – if at all.

 

Use a buddy system – ask a friend, colleague or a fire warden to remain with you during an evacuation.  Notify the fire warden of your location and your cell phone number. 

 

Have a cell phone and communicate with Security at 705-673-6562 (only if the emergency situation changes).

 

The Fire Warden will advise Security and/or the Fire Services of the location of persons who had to remain in the building. 

 

Once the emergency has been assessed, Security will come to your location and assist in the evacuation or they will update you on the emergency situation. 

 

 Individuals who are blind or have low vision are encouraged to use the buddy system.  The assistance of another person will expedite the evacuation procedure in a safe manner

 

 Individuals who are Deaf, Deafened and Hard of Hearing are encouraged to use the buddy system.  Strobe light use in conjunction with the fire alarm system is limited on campus.  These individuals will be encouraged to give their cell phone number to Security in order to receive text-message updates.

 

 Fire Wardens can alert those members of the community who require special evacuation assistance of the need to evacuate when they have knowledge of the person’s disability. 

 
 
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