Accessible Rescue

Ten steps to prepare for the accessible evacuation of people with disabilities and the elderly from a building during an emergency

1. Map – accessible emergency exits, accessible aisles, accessible safe spaces, accessible shelters, and accessible evacuation points.
2. Check – that there is a sequence of accessibility without obstacles and with clear direction signage on all accessible evacuation routes.
3. Equip – yourself with accessible rescue equipment for various disabilities, taking into account the expected number of people who may need such equipment.
4. Build & guide  – a team to assist people with disabilities during an emergency.
5. Prepare – personalized evacuation plans for employees with disabilities.
6. Ensure – that people with disabilities know how to act in various emergency situations and what to do during an alarm or evacuation announcement.
7. Prepare – a contact list and methods of assistance in an emergency for those who stay in the building regularly.
8. Make sure – that when a siren goes off, everyone knows and understands that they need to evacuate and what the evacuation destination is.
9. Adapt – the emergency evacuation procedure of the location to accommodate the evacuation of employees and customers with disabilities.
10. Update – the accessibility arrangements to include aspects of accessible protection during emergencies for public awareness.

Please note – these rules are immediate tips that will help you here and now. They are not a substitute for a professional procedure for evacuating people with disabilities.

Access Israel and the Purple Vest mission calls on organizations to adapt emergency evacuation procedures to the evacuation of people with disabilities worldwide.

Contact us for more information – pvm@aisrael.org

Accessible evacuation during Iron Swords War – Israel 2023

Evacuation of a Bus full of families of children with disabilities from Ashkelon – Israel 2023