Hi all:
below is an article and a web resource from Inclusion daily express
www.inclusiondaily.com
about access considerations in emergency egress.
People With Disabilities At Higher Risk Of Fire Deaths
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
November 26, 2001
LONDON, ENGLAND--A report released this month by the London Fire Brigade
found that a high percentage of London residents who died in home fires
between the years 1996 and 2000 were seniors and people with disabilities.
Most died because they were not able to quickly leave the scenes of the
fires.
The study analyzed 411 fire deaths during the five-year period and found
that 21 percent of those who died had some form of disability. In addition,
6 percent had "ill health", another 6 percent may have had an alcohol
addiction, and 5 percent reportedly had a mental illness. Fifty-seven
percent of those who died were over age 60.
People in the poorest neighborhoods and those who were socially isolated
also were at higher risk of fire-related death, according to the study. It
noted that people with disabilities are 6 times more likely to be out of
work.
The report also found that having functional smoke alarms was not enough to
save some fire victims. Twenty-six people died even though their smoke
alarms were operating properly. Nine of those victims had a disability and
one had "ill health".
This link should redirect you to the London Fire Brigade's website where you
can download a copy of the report entitled "Fire deaths in London
1996-2000":
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/red/1126a.htm
---
# FEATURED WEBSITE: ACCESSIBILITY
The U.S. Access Board: Resources on Emergency Evacuation and Disaster
Preparedness
"The tragic events of last September have brought into focus the importance
of taking into account the needs of all persons, including those with
disabilities, in preparing for, and responding to, disasters and
emergencies. They have also served to renew interest in how building
requirements address accessible egress."
"The Access Board develops and maintains accessibility requirements for the
built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, and for
electronic and information technology under several different laws,
including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Board's guidelines
for facilities address means of egress that are accessible to persons with
disabilities."
"Presented here is an overview of these design requirements. Also included
are links to information developed by other organizations on evacuation
planning and disaster preparedness":
http://www.access-board.gov/evac.htm
Adrian Higginbotham.
SURFACE (Salford University, Research Focus on Accessible Environments).
tel: (44_-161-2954939,
fax (44)-161-2955011,
Email [log in to unmask]
textphone (44)-161-2953599.
web: http://www.scpm.salford.ac.uk/surface/
----------End of Message----------
Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
You can JOIN or Leave the list from this web page as well
|