My comments are personal, and are not NDA policy.
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Hi Peter
I was heavily involved in a voluntary first aid organisation here in
Ireland for many years, so I'm delighted to see that this sector is taking
its responsibilities seriously. Your challenge is really the same challenge
for any organisation that has visitors or members of the public coming to
their offices or to events - how can you plan for unknown evacuation
requirements.
The first step is to do everything reasonably possible to ensure that the
building and staff support safe evacuation for everybody. Ensure that
escape routes are level and over firm ground. Provide both audible and
visual fire alarms where possible. Where additional equipment is necessary,
such as evacuation chairs or vibrating alert pagers, ensure that staff are
regularly trained in their use. For more guidance, see the NDA's
publication 'Promoting Safe Evacuation and Egress for People with
Disabilities' at http://www.nda.ie/egress
It may be possible to prepare 'template' PEEPS to cover different types of
disabilities. There is a danger in this approach, as of course, each
individual is different, and has their own individual abilities and
possibly disabilities. These template PEEPS can result in inappropriate
stereotyping or categorising of individuals (e.g. "all wheelchair users
have to use the evacuation chair"). It is important that staff know to use
template PEEPS as a tool, rather than as a rigid procedure.
The next step is to take reasonable steps to identify evacuation
requirements up front. If you have a booking form or application form, ask
attendees to highlight any evacuation needs up front. If there is form,
then ensure that any announcement or publicity has a standard tag line,
asking attendees to let you know about any access and egress requirements
beforehand. This will give you a chance to plan ahead for those
individuals, though in my experience, the number of people who use forms
like this to detail their needs is low.
Finally, it is important to have good procedures and training in place to
control what happens at the event itself. Despite the best attempts to plan
ahead, you can be certain that some people will show up unannounced. They
may be reluctant or nervous about highlighting their evacuation needs. You
need to create an environment that encourages disclosure of needs, and
responds appropriately with minimum fuss and drama.
I hope these thoughts help, and I'd love to hear thoughts of others on this
challenging issue.
Regards
Shane
Shane Hogan
Senior Standards Officer
National Disability Authority
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: http://www.nda.ie
Direct Line: 01-6080497
NDA eLearning Project - See http://short.ie/5cpaar
Peterf
<peterf@KEPPLEWRA
Y.ORG.UK> To
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CMAIL.AC.UK>
Hi Everybody
In my spare time! I am a volunteer with a national 1st Aid organisation.
I am currently revamping their H and S Policy.
Several of the buildings are used for training external 1st Aid courses.
All buildings are used regularly (Once/twice a week) for member training).
Where I work full time we have PEEPS for staff with disabilities. It
occures to me we should have the same for all buildings where there is a
delegate with a disability.
However although we may know a delegate has a disability we may not know
the full implications until they arrive for the course.
Has anyone got any experience of this and can advise me.
Yours
Peter
Peter Fox
Residential and Training Services Manager
Kepplewray Project
Kepplewray challenges exclusion and is founded on a commitment to bring
disabled and non-disabled people together as equal partners.
The Kepplewray Project, Broughton-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA20 6HE.
Tel: 01229 716936
www.kepplewray.org.uk
Registered Charity No 1015762
Kepplewray Ltd Registered Company No 2675957
Cumbria
LA20 6HE
01229 716936
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