During emergency event, there must be consideration for situations that result in accidents, injuries, sprains, broken bones, or a loss of assistive technology. The scenario of a bomb exploding in a building causing the entire work force to become temporality deaf might be considered an extreme example, but it highlights that it is worth considering all possible causes of an emergency event, the resulting impact and possible injuries it may cause occupants. After all, who could have predicted the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center?

Therefore, evacuation equipment, such as evacuation chairs must be provided for those occupants with a mobility disability, but there use could also help to evacuate those occupants suffering a temporary disability, an injury caused by the emergency (i.e. broken leg), an individual suffering a heart condition brought on by extreme stress or a pregnant women going into labour.[1] Of course, these evacuation devices must have suitable signage to identify their location.

[1] Security Director’s Report 2005, ‘New Obligation for Evacuating Disabled Breeds Opportunity’, Security Director’s Report, Nov 2005, Vol. 5 Issue 11, pp.5-6