Evacuation of Sensory-Impaired Patients

Evacuation of Sensory-Impaired Patients OSHA Training Institute

Objectives • Describe the special considerations for sensory-impaired individuals in evacuation • Practice the evacuation techniques unique to these individuals OSHA Training Institute

Impairments • Hearing Impaired • Sight Impaired • Guide Dogs • Mentally Impaired • Greater risk of injury and death for this group OSHA Training Institute

Hearing Impaired • 28 million documented hearing impaired people in US • Plus undiagnosed and patients in denial • Portion of deaf are also blind • Impaired ability to hear alarms, rescuer instructions, other hazards • Look for the Deaf on site • Background noise=chaos OSHA Training Institute

Hearing Impaired: Use Visual Cues • Visual Alarms • Strobe, colored, flashing lights • Vibrating alarms • Visual Communications • Lip reading • Head shaking • Gesticulation OSHA Training Institute

Hearing Impaired: Use Visual Cues • Problems • Responders often wear masks • Visual alarms not universally located • Traditional alarms set slightly above ambient noise • People with partial hearing loss may not hear alarm unless it significantly above ambient noise • Day vs. night • Darkness adds additional element of confusion OSHA Training Institute

Hearing Impaired • Incorporate evacuation impaired individuals into your disaster drills • Have individual employees with impairments make it clear what their needs are • Verbal communications • Written emergency instruction • Frustration for impaired individuals when only traditional alarm methods are used OSHA Training Institute

Visually Impaired • 10-18 million documented visually impaired people in US • Portion of deaf are also blind • 70% of people over age 65 have a severe visual impairment • Newly visually impaired have not adjusted other senses to make up for visual loss • Temporary visual impairments count! • Surgery, medications, injury OSHA Training Institute

Visually Impaired • Hearing or smell are the likely first indicators of danger • Can have difficulty localizing the threat in order to escape from it • Senses can be overwhelmed • High decibel alarms cause difficulty processing audible clues and instructions • Background noise=chaos OSHA Training Institute

Visually Impaired • Practice the escape plan • Visually impaired often overlooked in plans • They can help themselves, but know limitations • Can save precious time by incorporating visually impaired persons in drills/plans • New Environments = Difficult Evacuation • The visually impaired rely solely on tactile and verbal stimuli to escape • Smoke alarms for early detection and early evacuation OSHA Training Institute

Other Considerations • Utilization and evacuation of an individuals guide dog • The animals are trained to lead their owners away from danger • Still possible for animals to become frightened and panicked • Mentally Impaired • Similar considerations as in pediatrics OSHA Training Institute

Summary • Many of our co-workers and patients will have sensory impairments • Utilize sensory specific alarms and signs in your facility • PRACTICE evacuation plans with those that have impairments • They can help themselves in many ways • You can help them stay out of harms way OSHA Training Institute

References • An ADA Guide for Local Governments: Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities http://www.ada.gov/emergencyprepguide.htm • Fire Risks for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; TriData Corp, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide for the US Fire Administration • Fire Risks for the Blind or Visually Impaired; TriData Corp, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide for the US Fire Administration OSHA Training Institute

Demonstrations • Lifts/Carries • Human Chain OSHA Training Institute

Evacuation of Sensory-Impaired Patients