1. Evacuation Planning & Equipment Christine Nugent MPT

2. Why This Project?  I learned early in September of the year I first started working with school age students that evacuation protocols needed to be updated.  The school district recently purchased an Evac+Chair and staff needed training  When I had questions regarding evacuations or equipment, few had answers and/or the answers were vague

3. Questions related to evacuation equipment and planning:  Is there a law or mandate that guides plans?  What is the best method for evacuation?  What determines the best evacuation chair?  Who trains the trainer?  What if a school building has no evacuation protocol?  Shouldn’t all of our students with IEP’s or 504’s have a plan?

4. On-line Survey  Survey Monkey  9 questions  Sent to all PTs and OTs in the BCIU  Total of 47 PTs and OTs combined

5. Results of Survey 20 Therapist responded – 8 PTs and 12 OTs All 8 physical therapists and 9 (out of 12) occupational therapists are familiar with evacuation planning. All 20 therapists reported that their school building has evacuation procedures in place for students with complex needs. All physical therapists and 3 occupational therapists are involved in evacuation planning.

6. Results of Survey (con’t) The therapists identified the following types of equipment: Evac+Chair (8), Evacu-Trac (7), Tuk-n- Kari (2), Shelter in place (3) and Scalamobile (1). In regard to staff training, 5 physical therapists and 1 occupational therapist provide training for evacuation procedures. Six therapists responded to the amount of training provided ranging from at the beginning of the year to, as needed depending on the student and aide.

7. Types of Evacuation Chairs Stryker (Michigan) Escape Chair (Burbank, California) Globex Evacuation Chair (United Kingdom) Evacuscape (Ontario, Canada) Pisces Productions (Sebastopol, CA) Rescue Chair (New York) Evacu-Trac (No specific address found) Evac+Chair (Lake Success, New York) Scalamobil (battery powered evacuation device) http://www.usatechguide.org/itemreview.php?itemid=1341 ( website leading to variety of other chairs ) http://www.usatechguide.org/itemreview.php?itemid=1341

8. Stryker Evacuation Chair

9. Escape Chair

10. Globex Evacuation Chairs

11. Evacuscape Chair

12. Evacuation chair from Pisces Productions (Standard)

13. Pisces Production Evacution Chair – “the glider”

14. Evacu-Trac Chair

15. Evac+Chair

16. Scalamobil S35 with Invacare action 3 wheelchair

17. Alternatives Tuk-n-Kari: is a low cost transfer sling or portable stretcher for all mobility-impaired individuals. Two to four people can carry the person when it is inconvenient or impossible to use a wheelchair. Shelter-n-place: refers to staying in a pre- determined place (i.e. stairwell) until help arrives.

18. Summary  Many brands of evacuation chairs are available. Each brand has different models or adaptations  Most therapists surveyed either are aware of or take part in training &/or planning  Evacuations are critical to the safety of those students with complex needs

19. Resources “Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the ultimate responsibility for ensuring a safe evacuation does not rely entirely upon the disabled individual himself, but must also be addressed by his government(s), his employer and whatever places of public accommodation that individual happens to be in at the time of the emergency.” (http://castle.eiu.edu/alsb/ADA%20final.pdf)

20. Resources NFPA – National Fire Protection Association  “ It is important to note that teachers and school administrators have certain legal responsibilities to prevent discrimination against students with disabilities in areas within their control, including but not limited to transportation, training, and access to programs, and activities…. Teachers and school administrators are strongly encouraged to seek guidance from qualified professionals with respect to compliance with the applicable laws for individual programs and facilities.” http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/pdf/fact%20sheets/evacs tudentdisabilities.pdf

21. Resources Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide For People with Disabilities http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/pdf/forms/evacuationguide. pdf “Making sure Emergency Evacuation Planning is Part of Every Student’s IEP” http://safety.blog.nfpa.org/2013/02/make-sure-emergency- evacuation-planning-is-part-of-every-students-iep.html

22. Many questions still remain: Who trains the trainer? What is the best chair or model? How is a chair recommended and should there be a recommended list of procedures (i.e. 1. Evacuation chair 2. Tuk-n-Kari 3. Shelter in place). What happens when no device is available in the school building? Who provides the training when therapists do not? Shouldn’t ALL staff be trained (or at the least learn about)? Should teachers be aware of the evacuation planning (like the ITP)? Should all students with IEP’s or 504’s have a plan? What about transportation and evacuation from buses? What are your questions?

23.  What is the Law?

24.  Is there an evacuation chair at the BCIU #22?