Every school & college to be obliged to have an evacuation chair & training

I believe the government should make it a legal requirement for all schools and colleges to have evacuation chairs, and for all staff to be trained in using them.

Fires can spread very quickly. Sign so disabled people feel safer!

The safety of all pupils and staff in schools and colleges is paramount. Under the Equality Act 2010, schools and educational premises have a duty to make reasonable adjustments where necessary for anyone with a disability. All disabled learners and staff should have a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) in place should they need one, whether they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or not.

Under current fire safety legislation, those who have responsibility for the building need to provide a fire safety risk assessment that includes an emergency evacuation plan for all people likely to be in the premises. This includes disabled people. When a learner with a disability, requiring assistance with building evacuation, is enrolled in a school or college, their PEEP should be developed with them as part of the admissions process.

A PEEP is a tailored plan to ensure someone who may need assistance in a building evacuation can safely reach a place of safety. It is designed for individuals with impairments or disabilities that might make it difficult for them to evacuate on their own. PEEPs are developed collaboratively between the individual and relevant staff, such as managers, fire safety officers, or disability advisors, to ensure the plan is effective and meets their needs.

A PEEP is a personal document relating to a specific individual. The requirements and preferences of individuals may vary, even when the disability is similar. While some disabled people will require the use of an evacuation chair, others would not welcome this as a means of escape. Additionally, almost half of schools in England are only single-storey buildings. This is why it is important the use of evacuation chairs should be determined on a case-by-case basis, at a local level based on the specific needs of the individual required one.

An evacuation chair looks like a deckchair with skis and wheels underneath. When placed on the stairway, it slides down the stairs. There are wheels at the back that facilitate movement on the flat, but they are not suitable for long distances. An evacuation chair is operated by one or two people and requires training and practice to use. Not all disabled people feel comfortable using these chairs and it is not always possible for wheelchair users to transfer into an evacuation chair or to maintain a sitting position once seated in one. Therefore, evacuation chairs should not be considered as an automatic solution to the escape requirements of wheelchair users.

The preferred options for escape of many people with mobility impairments are by horizontal evacuation to outside the building, horizontal evacuation into another fire compartment, or fire evacuation lift, eventually arriving at a place of safety. This is the preferable option for some disabled people. Within this group, many people will be able to manage stairs and to walk longer distances, especially if short rest periods are built into the escape procedure, although this won’t apply to all.

Practice for PEEPs will depend on the type of escape required. Generally, escape plans should be practised on a regular basis and at least every six months. If the disabled person wants or needs to practise their route and plan more frequently, this should be written into their PEEP. For an evacuation chair to be used safely both the user and the operators must be well trained and familiar with the piece of equipment.

As well as comprehensive training regular practice should also take place. In most instances, these may not need to include the disabled person, although some may wish to practise being moved in the evacuation chair. It is more appropriate for the people who are trained to operate the evacuation chair to take it in turns during practices rather than involve the disabled person. This will also increase their confidence in using the equipment. Using an evacuation chair in practice may put the disabled person at unnecessary risk from injury, so it is best to limit their use by disabled people to the real situation.

All schools and colleges must also comply with Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which means they must have an up-to-date fire risk assessment, appropriate fire alarms and regular fire drills. This is to ensure they are as safe as possible and well prepared in the event of a fire.

Department for Education