osha training institute 1 evacuation of sensory-impaired patients
TRANSCRIPT
OSHA Training Institute 1
Evacuation of Sensory-Impaired Patients
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Objectives
Describe the special considerations for sensory-impaired individuals in evacuation
Practice the evacuation
techniques unique to these
individuals
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Impairments
Hearing Impaired Sight Impaired
Guide Dogs Mentally Impaired
Greater risk of injury and death for this group
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Hearing Impaired
28 million documented hearing impaired people in USPlus undiagnosed and patients in denialPortion of deaf are also blind
Impaired ability to hear alarms, rescuer instructions, other hazardsLook for the Deaf on siteBackground noise=chaos
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Hearing Impaired: Use Visual Cues
Visual AlarmsStrobe, colored, flashing lights Vibrating alarms
Visual CommunicationsLip readingHead shakingGesticulation
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Hearing Impaired: Use Visual Cues
ProblemsResponders often wear masksVisual alarms not universally locatedTraditional alarms set slightly above ambient
noise People with partial hearing loss may not hear alarm
unless it significantly above ambient noise
Day vs. night Darkness adds additional element of confusion
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Hearing Impaired
Incorporate evacuation impaired individuals into your disaster drills
Have individual employees with impairments make it clear what their needs areVerbal communicationsWritten emergency instruction
Frustration for impaired individuals when only traditional alarm methods are used
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Visually Impaired 10-18 million documented visually
impaired people in USPortion of deaf are also blind70% of people over age 65 have a severe
visual impairment Newly visually impaired have not adjusted other
senses to make up for visual loss Temporary visual impairments count!
Surgery, medications, injury
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Visually Impaired
Hearing or smell are the likely first indicators of dangerCan have difficulty localizing the threat in
order to escape from it Senses can be overwhelmed
High decibel alarms cause difficulty processing audible clues and instructions
Background noise=chaos
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Visually Impaired Practice the escape plan
Visually impaired often overlooked in plansThey can help themselves, but know limitationsCan save precious time by incorporating visually
impaired persons in drills/plans New Environments = Difficult Evacuation
The visually impaired rely solely on tactile and verbal stimuli to escape
Smoke alarms for early detection and early evacuation
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Other Considerations Utilization and evacuation
of an individuals guide dogThe animals are trained
to lead their owners
away from dangerStill possible for animals to become
frightened and panicked Mentally Impaired
Similar considerations as in pediatrics
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Summary
Many of our co-workers and patients will have sensory impairments
Utilize sensory specific alarms and signs in your facility
PRACTICE evacuation plans with those that have impairmentsThey can help themselves in many waysYou can help them stay out of harms way
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References An ADA Guide for Local Governments: Making
Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities
http://www.ada.gov/emergencyprepguide.htm Fire Risks for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing;
TriData Corp, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide for the US Fire Administration
Fire Risks for the Blind or Visually Impaired; TriData Corp, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide for the US Fire Administration
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Demonstrations
Lifts/Carries
Human Chain