An evacuation chair is a specialized device designed to safely evacuate individuals with mobility challenges or injuries from commercial buildings or residential homes during emergencies, such as fires, earthquakes, tornados, or other disasters.
It typically consists of a sturdy frame with wheels, a seat or platform for the individual to sit or lie on, and handles or straps for caregivers or rescuers to push or pull the chair up and down a flight of stairs.
These chairs are particularly helpful for people with special needs in emergencies for several reasons:
Mobility Assistance
Many individuals may have difficulty walking or using stairs independently due to age or disability. Evacuation chairs, sleds, and sheets provide a means of transport that does not require the individual to walk or navigate stairs, ensuring they can safely exit the building.
An evacuation sled uses a slideable plastic board with cushioned head support that can be moved over any surface and down stairs by one person. An evacuation sheet is placed under a mattress, allowing the patient to be moved using their bed mattress as protection, especially when going downstairs.
Power vs Manual
Electric/battery powered stair climbers can allow for easy and safe stair ascent and descent. Manual stair climbers require two operators to lift the chair in order to ascend up stairs or over obstacles.
Stability and Support
Evacuation chairs are designed to provide stability and support to individuals during evacuation. They typically have secure straps or harnesses to support the head, chest, and legs, keeping the person safely in place during transport. Height-adjustable and cushioned headrests may be an option. Evacuation chairs, sleds, and sheets often come in standard and bariatric sizes.
Emergency Preparedness
In the event of a fire, tornado, or other emergency where rapid evacuation is required, an evacuation chair can provide a safe and efficient means of getting out of the home, especially if elevators or ramps cannot be used. It is important to have emergency plans in place and to practice often so that all caregivers feel comfortable with them.
Having an evacuation chair in the home can provide peace of mind to both the individual with mobility issues and their family members, knowing that there is a reliable and safe means of evacuation in case of an emergency.
Ease of Use
Evacuation chairs are generally designed to be easy to use by both the individual needing assistance and by a caregiver or other family member. There is no assembly required and they often feature simple mechanisms for deploying and using the chair.
There are lightweight manual options that include self-braking reinforced tracks, which allow the caregiver to control the speed of descent for easy single-person operation. There are also battery-powered, electric evacuation chair options with a single speed control panel, on/off power, ascent and descent buttons, and an adjustable stair track.
Compact and Portable
Most evacuation chairs are designed to be compact and portable, making them easy to store in a home and quickly deploy when needed. This ensures that they are readily available in case of an emergency. For areas like a bathroom that have limited space, a sled or sheet may be a better emergency option.
Building Codes and Home Accessibility
In some jurisdictions, building codes or regulations may require homes or residential buildings to have evacuation chairs, especially in multi-story buildings or homes with occupants who have mobility impairments. The layout and space restrictions of some homes may not allow for a stair lift or inclined platform lift. An evacuation chair can allow for upper-level or basement access in a home as an alternative option.
Pediatrics and School Safety
Students with disabilities (SWDs) are entitled to the same emergency services as their nondisabled peers and should be considered and included during emergency management planning. A school evacuation chair may be considered in evacuation planning and can be an added accommodation as part of a student's 504 and IEP process.
Safety First In Any Situation
Having an evacuation chair, sled, or sheet in the home, workplace, or school can provide peace of mind to individuals with mobility issues. It provides family members, co-workers, and staff members with a safe, efficient, and reliable means of evacuation in case of an emergency.
