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What are wheelchair-bound people to do when a building alarm disables elevators? (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 5 months ago by some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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We had a false alarm go off in the building where I work last week. The elevators automatically shut down forcing the use of the fire escapes. The building is 22 floors. I was lucky in that I’d just taken the elevator to the first floor to step outside on a break. When they finally let us back in, I wondered what someone with mobility issues is expected to do had the building been on fire. Just die? Have a kind soul carry them? With most people wfh at least a couple of days per week, this seems really dangerous for anyone who might get stranded.

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[-] Today@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

That's part of my job. Our district covers several cities, so several different fire departments. Some have suggested meeting spots on each floor. Some have provided slings. Our schools all have evac chairs. They suck and they're dangerous. If you can have someone carry your chair,someone else block traffic, and one or both of them help you back into your chair afterwards bottom bumping down the stairs is what i would do. Otherwise, go to the meeting spot.

[-] frankPodmore@slrpnk.net 2 points 5 months ago

We had a few evac chairs, but I think you needed training to use them and I never had the training!

[-] myrrh@ttrpg.network 2 points 5 months ago

...i have a paraplegic friend who's surprisingly adept at wheely-ing his own chair down fire stairs and a quadriplegic friend who we just hodor outside during fire drills, even though they're both supposed to shelter-in-place...

this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2024

245 points (98.8% liked)

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