Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities or Special Needs

While disasters and emergencies affect everyone, their impact on people with disabilities/special needs is often compounded by factors such as reliance on electrical power, elevators, accessible transportation and accessible communication – all of which can be compromised in emergency situations.

By taking a few simple steps today, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies. These basic steps should help you to take care of yourself and your loved ones during an emergency.

Click the options below to learn more about the additional considerations when making a family emergency plan

Personal Support Network

A personal support network is a group of at least three people you know and trust and who would help you during an emergency.

How do you create a support network?

• Ask people you trust if they are willing to help you in case of an emergency. Identify contacts for important locations such as home, work or school. Neighbours are often the closest and most available contacts in an emergency.
• Tell these support people where your emergency kit is stored. Give one member a key to your home.
• Include a support network contact who is far enough away that they are unlikely to be affected by the same emergency.
• Work with your support network to develop a plan that meets your needs.
• Practice your emergency plan with your network. If applicable, show them how your special needs equipment works.

Overall Considerations for those with Disabilities and Special Needs 

People With a Disability / Special Needs – Tips

• Make sure all your emergency kit items are organized in one place, easy to find and to carry.
• Tag all of your special needs equipment including instructions on how to use and/or move each assistive device during an emergency.
• Complete a checklist and personal assessment sheet and provide a copy to your designated network(s). Keep a copy in your emergency kit(s).
• If you have food / drug allergies, wear a MedicAlert® bracelet.
• List all food/drug allergies and current medications (for each medication, specify the medical condition being treated, the generic name, dosage, frequency, and the name and contact information of the prescribing physician). Provide this list to your designated network and keep a copy in your emergency kit(s).
• If you rely on any life sustaining equipment or if you require regular attendant care, ask your network to check on you immediately if an emergency occurs and have an emergency backup plan in the event of a power outage.
• During an emergency, if your support network is unable to help, ask others for help and inform them of your special needs and how they can assist you.
• Carry a personal alarm that emits a loud noise to draw attention.
• Be aware that experiencing an emergency can be overwhelming and stress can worsen some medical
  conditions.

Assisting People With a Disability / Special Needs – Tips

• Ask if the person wants your help, and how you may best assist them.
• If someone refuses your help, wait for first responders to arrive, unless it is a matter of life or death.
• Do not touch the person, their service animal or equipment without their permission, unless it is a matter of life or death.
• Follow instructions posted on special needs equipment.
• You may be asked to use latex-free gloves to reduce the spread of viral infection or to prevent an allergic reaction to latex.
• Ask the person if areas of their body have reduced sensation and if they want you to check those areas for injuries.
• Do not try to move someone unless you are trained in proper techniques.
• If a person is unconscious or unresponsive do not administer any liquids or food.
• If the person has a service animal, it is the animal owner's responsibility to assess whether or not it is safe for the animal to work through the emergency situation.
• To make this decision, the service animal owner will need information as to the nature of the hazards they are expected to face and any changes to the physical environment.
• If providing sighted assistance, the first responder or caregiver should confirm that the service animal is then not working, and is therefore off duty.

Mobility

Mobility limitations may make it difficult for a person to use stairs or to move quickly over long distances. Limitations may include reliance on mobility equipment such as a wheelchair, walker, crutches or a walking cane. People with a heart condition or respiratory difficulties may also have limited mobility.

Your emergency plan

• If you use a wheelchair or scooter, request that an emergency evacuation chair be stored near a stairwell on the same floor where you work or live, so that your network can readily access it to help you evacuate. The person with the disability should be involved in the selection of the evacuation chair.
• People who require the use of an evacuation chair should designate a primary and backup contact to assist them in the event of an evacuation. Create an evacuation plan in collaboration with the building manager and contact persons, and practice using the chair with them.
• In your personal assessment checklist, identify areas of your body that have reduced sensation so that these areas can be checked for injuries after an emergency, if you cannot do so yourself.
• Check with your local municipal office to find out if emergency shelters in your area are wheelchair accessible.

Recommended additional emergency preparedness kit items checklist

• Tire patch kit
• Can of seal-in-air product (to repair flat tires on your wheelchair or scooter)
• Supply of inner tubes
• Pair of heavy gloves (to protect your hands while wheeling over glass or other sharp debris)
• Latex-free gloves (for anyone providing personal care to you)
• Spare deep-cycle battery for a motorized wheelchair or scooter
• A lightweight, manual wheelchair as a backup to a motorized wheelchair (if feasible)
• Spare catheters (if applicable)
• Your power outage backup plan
• Other: _____________________________________

Assisting a person with a mobility disability – what to do

• If possible, use latex-free gloves when providing personal care.
• Try to ensure that the person's wheelchair is transported with the person.
• If this is not possible, employ other evacuation techniques as appropriate, such as use of the evacuation chair, shelter-in-place (if instructed to do so), or lifts and carries by trained personnel.
• Do not push or pull a person's wheelchair without their permission, unless it is a matter of life or death.

Non-Visible Disabilities

Individuals with non-visible disabilities may have difficulty performing some tasks even though their condition is not apparent. Non-visible disabilities can include communication, cognitive, sensory, mental health, learning or intellectual disabilities which may impair an individual's response to an emergency. Conditions can include allergies, epilepsy, diabetes, pulmonary or heart disease, and/or dependency on dialysis, different supplies, etc.

Your emergency plan

• Keep an emergency contact list on your person. This list should note key people that are aware of your
  special needs.
• Inform your designated support network of where you store your medication.
• Consider wearing a MedicAlert® bracelet or identification to help notify emergency responders about your special needs.
• Request that a panic push-button be installed in your work and living areas so that in an emergency you can notify others of your location and that you need special assistance.

Recommended additional emergency preparedness kit items checklist

• Supply of food items appropriate to your dietary restrictions
• List of instructions that you can easily follow in an emergency
• Personal list and minimum one-week supply of all needed medications, medical supplies and special equipment (i.e., ventilator for asthma, nitro lingual spray for a heart condition, an epinephrine pen against allergic reactions or anaphylactic shock, etc.)
• Detailed list of all prescription medications
• MedicAlert® identification
• Other: _____________________________________

Example: People with diabetes

• Extra supply of insulin or oral agent
• Extra supply of syringes, needles and insulin pens (if used)
• Small container for storing used syringes and/or needles (if applicable)
• Blood glucose testing kit, spare batteries and record book
• Supply of blood glucose and urine ketone testing strips Fast acting insulin for high blood glucose (if applicable) Fast acting sugar for low blood glucose
• Extra food to cover delayed meals
• Ice packs and thermal bag to store insulin (if applicable)

Assisting a person with a non-visible disability – what to do

• Allow the person to describe the help they need.
• Find effective ways to communicate, such as drawn or written instructions, using landmarks instead of general terms like "go left" or "turn right".
• Maintain eye contact when speaking to the person.
• Repeat instructions (if needed).
• If a person needs to take medication, ask if he/she needs help taking it. (Never offer medicine not prescribed by a physician.)

Hearing

The way that emergency warnings are issued in an emergency is critical to the understanding of instructions and the subsequent response and safety of those with hearing loss.

Your emergency plan

• Communicate your hearing loss by moving your lips without making a sound, pointing to your ear, using a gesture, or if applicable, pointing to your hearing aid.
• Keep a pencil and paper handy for written communication.
• Obtain a pager that is connected to an emergency paging system at your workplace and/or your residence.
• Install a smoke detection system that includes flashing strobe lights or vibrators to get your attention if the alarms sound.
• Test smoke alarms monthly by pushing the test button.
• Replace batteries every six months or whenever there is a low battery signal.

Recommended additional emergency preparedness kit items checklist

• Writing pads and pencils for communication
• Flashlight, whistle or personal alarm
• Pre-printed phrases you would use during an emergency, such as "I use American Sign Language" or "If you make announcements, I will need to have them written simply or signed".
• Assistive equipment according to your needs (i.e., hearing aid, personal amplifier, etc.)
• Portable visual notification devices to know if someone is knocking on the door, ringing the doorbell, or calling on the telephone
• Extra batteries for assistive devices
• A CommuniCard™ (produced by The Canadian Hearing Society) that explains your hearing loss and identifies how first responders can communicate with you during an emergency
• Other: _____________________________________

Assisting a person with a hearing impairment – what to do

• Get the person's attention via a visual cue or a gentle touch on their arm. Do not approach the person from behind.
• Face the person, make eye contact when speaking to them as they may rely on lip reading and communicate in close proximity.
• Speak clearly and naturally. Do not shout or speak unnaturally slowly.
• Try to rephrase, rather than repeating yourself.
• Use gestures to help illustrate your meaning.
• If there is time, it may be helpful to write a message.
• Hearing aids amplify sounds and can create a physical shock to the user, so do not make loud noises.
• Note that some people may be deaf-blind.

Vision

A person who is blind or has reduced vision may have difficulty reading signs or moving through unfamiliar environments during an emergency. They may feel lost and/or dependent on others for guidance.

Your emergency plan

• Have a longer white cane available to readily manoeuvre around obstacles (there may be debris on the floor or furniture may have shifted).
• Identify all emergency supplies in advance with fluorescent tape, large print or Braille text, such as gas, water and electric shutoff valves.
• Familiarize yourself in advance with all escape routes and locations of emergency doors/exits on each floor of any building where you work, live and visit.

Recommended additional emergency preparedness kit items checklist

• Extra white cane, preferably longer in length
• Talking or Braille clock
• Large print timepiece with extra batteries
• Extra vision aids such as an electronic travel aid, monocular, binocular or magnifier
• Extra pair of prescription glasses (if applicable)
• Any reading devices / assistive technology to access information or portable CCTV devices
• Other: _____________________________________

Assisting a person with a vision disability – what to do

• For people who are deaf-blind, draw an "X" on their back with your finger to let them know you can help them.
• To communicate with someone who is deaf-blind, trace letters in their hand with your finger.
• To guide a person, keep half a step ahead, offer them your arm and walk at their pace.
• Do not shout at a person who is blind or has reduced vision. Speak clearly and provide specific directions.
• Provide advance warning of upcoming stairs, major obstacles or changes in direction.
• Watch for obstacles that the person could walk into.
• Never grab a person with vision loss, unless it is a matter of life or death.
• Do not assume that the person cannot see you.
• Avoid the term "over there"; describe positions such as, "to your right / left / straight ahead / behind you", or by using the clock face positions (i.e., the exit is at 12 o'clock).
• If the person has a service animal on duty, ask them where you should walk to avoid distracting the animal. Do not separate the service animal from its owner.

Seniors With a Disability/ Special Needs

Seniors, especially those with special needs, should be informed of what to do in an emergency. Contact your municipality to find out about programs and services in your area that will help you during an emergency and assist you in returning to your daily routine.

Your emergency plan

• Create an emergency contact list identifying your personal support network, including physicians, case worker, a contact from a seniors group, neighbours and your building superintendent.
• Keep a copy of this list in your emergency kit and on your person.
• Familiarize yourself with all escape routes, emergency equipment and the location of emergency doors / exits in your home.
• If you have a pet, bring it with you in an evacuation and have an emergency plan for your pet. Determine in advance who can take care of your animal during an emergency.
• Request that a panic push-button be installed in your work and/or living area so that in the event of an emergency you can notify others of your location and that you need special assistance.

Recommended additional emergency preparedness kit items checklist

• Non-perishable food appropriate to your dietary restrictions
• Assistive devices needed such as canes, walkers, lightweight manual wheelchair, hearing aids, breathing apparatus, blood glucose monitoring device
• Extra prescription eyewear and footwear (if required)
• Extra supply of medications and vitamin supplements
• A list of all your needed medical supplies and special equipment
• Copies of all medication prescriptions
• Extra dentures (if required) and cleaner
• Latex-free gloves (for anyone providing personal care to you)
• Other:

Assisting a senior with a disability / special needs – what to do

• Check on neighbours to find out if there are seniors who would need your help during an emergency.
• Always speak calmly and provide assurance that you are there to help. Avoid shouting or speaking unnaturally slowly.
• Let the person tell you how you can help.
• Know the location of emergency buttons (many seniors' buildings have emergency buttons located in bedrooms and washrooms).
• Follow instructions posted on special needs equipment and/or assistive devices.