by Dominic Marinelli
United Spinal Association has updated a pamphlet that provides important fire safety information for persons with disabilities. Fire Safety for Wheelchair Users at Work and at Home was distributed to fire marshals from around the United States during their annual Prevention Advocacy Resources and Data Exchange (PARADE) conference held at the National Fire Training Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland on November 6, 2004.
In addition to discussing the brochure with the fire marshals who attended the four 90minute sessions, we reviewed the latest life safety requirements designed to assist people with disabilities safely evacuate buildings, including the installation of visible alarms, the use of elevators and wider exit stairs as a means of accessible egress, areas of refuge, and above-grade fire-rated safe areas at the exterior of a building.
“Fire marshals need to understand the needs of people with disabilities when evacuating them from buildings,” Robert Drexler, fire marshall, Town of Greece, New York, said. “We need to be able to work with building owners and managers in our communities so that we can establish better evacuation plans for their employees with disabilities.”
Fire Safety for Wheelchair Users at Work and at Home covers, in detail, such topics as fire safety protocols and procedures, home evacuation for individuals with mobility impairments and fire prevention. The United States Census Bureau estimates that there are more than 21.2 million people who have mobility impairments, and the training offered by United Spinal is designed to provide the information needed to navigate the numerous codes and standards that govern accessibility. Certified United Spinal instructors visit firms and provide help with the latest code requirements and federal and state accessibility requirements.
Fire marshals from as far away as Anchorage, Alaska, have requested additional copies of Fire Safety for Wheelchair Users at Work and at Home for distribution in their communities. The brochure can be obtained by calling United Spinal’s publications request line at 1-800-444-0120, or can be ordered online at www.unitedspinal.org.
Dominic Marinelli is Director of Advocacy.
The Brochure Targets:
• Persons who use wheelchairs or who have other mobility impairments
• Fire, safety, and building code officials
• Emergency plan coordinators
• Building owners and managers
• Employers and supervisors
• Office fire marshals
Some Topics Covered in Training:• Overview of state and federal accessibility requirements
• Problem application areas, such as exterior/interior accessible routes and toilet and bathing facilities
• Existing buildings: Alterations, changes of occupancy/conversions, and so forth.
• Life safety issues: Areas of refuge, means of exiting elevators, and exterior areas of assisted areas, to name a few
Please forward a copy of the brochure to my email address.
Thank you.
Please send a copy to my email address. I have not been able to get to the information through your website.
The booklet is available on this page:
http://www.unitedspinal.org/disability-publications-resources/disability-publications/
The PDF is available at this link:
http://www.unitedspinal.org/pdf/WheelchairFireSafety.pdf