OSHA Training Institute 1 Evacuation of Sensory-Impaired Patients

OSHA Training Institute2 Objectives Describe the special considerations for sensory-impaired individuals in evacuation Practice the evacuation techniques unique to these individuals

OSHA Training Institute3 Impairments Hearing Impaired Sight Impaired  Guide Dogs Mentally Impaired Greater risk of injury and death for this group

OSHA Training Institute4 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 Institute5 Hearing Impaired: Use Visual Cues Visual Alarms  Strobe, colored, flashing lights  Vibrating alarms Visual Communications  Lip reading  Head shaking  Gesticulation

OSHA Training Institute6 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 Institute7 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 Institute8 Visually Impaired 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 Institute9 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 Institute10 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 Institute11 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 Institute12 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 Institute13 References An ADA Guide for Local Governments: Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities 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 Institute14 Demonstrations Lifts/Carries Human Chain