Emergency Procedures

Emergencies such as fire and tornadoes occasionally occur as well as emergency drills. Instructors and staff should develop a plan of action if they are aware that they have a student with mobility, visual or hearing impairment in their classroom. Ultimately, the person with a disability is responsible for his/her own safety in an emergency situation, but it is important that classroom instructors play a role in student evacuation. If you need assistance in developing a plan, contact the ADA Coordinator’s Office at (478) 471-2780. The following are some suggestions:

Students with Mobility Impairments

In case of fire or tornadoes, individuals with mobility impairments should be directed to an area of refuge. This can include near a stairway or a classroom adjacent to a stairway with a fire rated door and/walls or to an internal room away from windows (in case of tornadoes). Note the location of the stairway or adjacent room (i.e. NW corner, 2nd floor).The student should not block the stairway. This can result in harm to the student and others as people evacuate via the stairway.

• The instructor should alert emergency personnel of the location and need for evacuation of the person with a disability.
• Assist the student with the mobility impairment in accessing the area of refuge, and let him/her know you will be contacting appropriate rescue personnel.
• If you have a cell phone and the student does not, leave the cell phone with the student.
• In most instances, do not attempt to carry the person in the wheelchair. You can injure yourself or the student.

Elevator Breakdowns and Repair

With such a large number of buildings on campus, elevator breakdowns are a relatively common occurrence and can be extremely inconvenient or even life threatening to a person who uses a wheelchair. When an elevator ceases to operate, contact Plant Operations at (478) 471-2780 immediately.  If a person who uses a wheelchair is stuck on an upper level floor and also uses a respirator to breathe, time is of the essence. Consult with the person in question to determine the amount of oxygen remaining in the respirator and assess their desire for emergency rescue.

If there is a breakdown of the main elevator and there is a freight elevator, assist the student in finding the freight elevator. Students sometimes need assistance getting on and off a freight elevator. If you become aware of long-term repair issues with an elevator and you have a student taking a class in an upper level classroom, contact Counseling Center about getting the class changed to another site.

Students with Visual Impairments

Students with visual impairments should already be familiar with their surroundings after mobility and orientation training. They may not, however, be aware of emergency exits.

• In case of emergencies, alert the student to the nature of the situation. Offer assistance to the student and guide him/her to the nearest emergency exit and out of and away from the building to safety. Some types of emergencies require safety within a building. Depending upon the nature of the emergency, during crises periods, there may be a lot of commotion and noise. A student who is blind may not be able to orient him/herself as well as in calmer times. Your assistance is critical to their safety.
• A good way of offering assistance to a person who is blind is to use what is known as the sighted guide technique. You do this by offering this person an elbow. The person holds on to your elbow, and you proceed ahead.
• As you walk, alert the student to where he/she is and inform him/her of any obstacles, debris, doorways, or narrow passages.
• Once guided to safety, orient the student to his/her surroundings and determine if further assistance is needed.

Students with Hearing Impairments

Students who are deaf or hard of hearing may not hear alarms or other audible warnings. Instructors should inform the student of an emergency. There are two ways to get the person’s attention:

• Write a note for the student alerting him/her to the emergency and instructing him/her where to go.
• Turn the light switch off and on to gain attention.
• Tap his/her shoulder.

In most instances, there will be an interpreter/transcriber in the classroom to explain the emergency to the student. Provide any assistance a student might need during the evacuation process.