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

submitted 4 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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[-] Stabbi@midwest.social 78 points 4 months ago

We die.

When I was in engineering school, I was lucky enough to have a based professor. He would start lessons by describing a tragedy. A paraplegic burns to death in a stairwell, another cracks their skull after being pushed down the stairs. He would then show us solutions to these issues from long before the tragedy. Slides to carry you down, bags you sit in and use the rails as a slide. Fire safe rooms that you could shelter in and can be accessed from the outside.

This also does not simply affect us disabled fucks. Say there is an earthquake, and you shatter a leg, or worse, your hip. You are now in the same stairwell as the rest of us.

Also, god help you if you're overweight. When my legs stopped working, I gained 200lbs. I knew then and know now that if I am in a burning building, I will be the last one out, if I get out.

[-] Gork@lemm.ee 21 points 4 months ago

They could design the stairwell like in a cartoon so that the steps go diagonal to make the entire thing a one-way slide.

Then you can go wheeee! during a fire escape.

[-] Wxnzxn@lemmy.ml 11 points 4 months ago

Emergency slides are a thing at some places, unfortunately usually only in places that focus on people with disabilities. I was at a vocational school that focused on people with disabilities for my training as a programmer, and all the buildings had spiral slides in the stairwells. The bonus was that you could also just use them as slides when moving down.

[-] Gork@lemm.ee 6 points 4 months ago

We are getting closer to the Futurama future where everyone gets around using pneumatic tubes.

[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

I’ve not ever worked in one place that had both good “fire marshal” training and had an emergency chair for escaping. I was one of those volunteering to be responsible for helping a buddy escape, yet I never even saw the chair. They described how to use it. We even got tours of all the emergency equipment to gain familiarity, except that.

Since then, no place I’ve worked with have even had a Fire Marshall program

[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

Then just open the standpipes (for safety 😜 ) and turn them into water slides!

[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 7 points 4 months ago

As an able overweight guy, if I get hurt or something there’s no way anyone is helping me get out in an emergency.

[-] Sir_Fridge@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

My university had those bags. I found them... Optimistic

[-] Stabbi@midwest.social 2 points 3 months ago

Im just glad they acknowledged us. Like, even the degrading alleyway wheelchair ramps are better than a staircase with no handrail, but at least they put in the literal minimum effort. Same goes with cloth masks.

[-] Sir_Fridge@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Honestly I agree. And I don't consider them degrading if the purpose is to save your life. I find it humbling (maybe nowthe right word) that the plan is to have multiple people work together just to make sure you don't get left behind. But in an emergency you do need multiple people's help which is why I find them so optimistic.

I'm also happy I don't have to use them or practice with them. It doesn't seem very comfortable and honestly a bit scary.

this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2024

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