Emergency Planning for Individuals with Disabilities

• • Emergency Preparedness
  • Evacuation Assistance Tips
  • Guides & Resources

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness means being ready for different situations, learning from experiences, and improving future readiness. At George Mason, everyone plays a role in this effort. If you would like help on making a plan for yourself students can reach out to Disability Services and faculty/staff can reach out directly to the ADA Coordinator. Check out the Risk, Safety, & Resilience Emergency Management website for resources. Here’s some information on your role:

Tips for Assisting Individuals During Evacuation

• Help with visual and verbal guidance for those with low vision or blindness
  • Make sure to identify yourself and others to start off with and if you need to step away for any reason make sure to inform the individual of this as well
  • Ask if they need specific directions; if so make sure to say things such as “make a left turn in 5 steps” instead of just saying “turn here”
  • If they would like assistance ask if they would prefer to take your arm or just follow you
  • Be mindful they may have a service animal you should not touch and place yourself on the opposite side
• Communicate through writing or gestures for Deaf or Hard of Hearing individuals
  • Use paper/pencil, your phone, or whatever is at your disposal to ask what their preferred method of communication is and if they need assistance
  • If you need to get an individual’s attention during an evacuation you can lightly tap them on the shoulder or make a gesture they can see
  • Make sure while assisting this individual you face them directly at all times and speak in a clear and normal tone unless otherwise directed
• Assist mobility-restricted people to a safe area
  • Ask the individual if they would like to be assisted and how to best assist them if they say yes
  • Treat their assistive devices as an extension of that person’s body and do not lean on it, over it, or touch/move their devices without permission
  • Ensure there is adequate room for the individual and their assistive devices where you are travelling
• Avoid lifting people in wheelchairs and ensure their needs are met
  • Ask the individual if they would like to be assisted and how to best assist them if they say yes
  • Ensure you notify emergency personnel immediately of any individuals remaining in the building and their location
  • Ensure any mobility aids or devices are reunited with the person as soon as possible

Guides & Resources

Important definitions for emergency preparedness:

An Evacuation Assistant is a volunteer, co-worker, classmate, suite mate, or friend who can aid individuals with access or functional needs during an emergency. Evacuation Assistants provide instruction during an evacuation, help individuals with access or functional needs relocate to Areas of Assistance, notify first responders or emergency personnel of individuals with access or functional needs that are unable to evacuate a building, and provide support as necessary to ensure a safe evacuation. Evacuation Assistants are NOT responsible for physically evacuating an individual from a building.

Designated assembly areas are to be utilized when a building has been evacuated. These designated areas are a safe distance from the building, and keep building occupants safe while allowing emergency response personnel to access the building. Accounting for other students, employees, classmates, and colleagues is facilitated by having all persons within your group, class, office, or work area report to a single location following a building evacuation.

Evacuation Plans are maps that designate primary and alternate building evacuation routes. Evacuation Plans are posted throughout all university buildings. Students, employees, and visitors are encouraged to know and use two exit routes for all buildings and know your designated assembly area.

Fire Drills are conducted on campus in accordance with the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code. Drills are held in all university buildings and are unannounced. For more information on fire drills please reference the Fire Safety Plan [PDF].

Emergency Evacuation Guide [PDF]

• General Evacuation Procedures to know:
  • Building fire alarm features and other evacuation signals
  • Assigned duties, if any, in the event of an alarm or emergency
  • Primary and alternate evacuation routes
  • Designated Assembly Areas
  • Areas of Assistance (for those who may have mobility impairments)
  • Procedures for reporting missing individuals to first responders
• The following procedures must be followed when a building is evacuated:
  • If you become aware of a dangerous situation that warrants an evacuation, activate the fire alarm by using a manual pull station
  • Notify Emergency Services at 911 and report the situation and associated details, if known
  • Do not use elevators during a fire or evacuation
  • Assist individuals with access or functional needs and those unfamiliar with evacuation procedures (see above section for guidance)
  • Exit the building by way of the nearest exit
  • Assemble at the Designated Assembly Area and await further instruction from emergency response personnel
  • Do not re-enter the building until authorized to do so by University Police or emergency response personnel

See a complete list of Emergency Preparedness Guides on the Risk Safety & Resillience Emergency Management page.