Fire evacuation in schools for young people with disabilities

What is the responsibility of the school?

This information has been written for teachers and school. It has been compiled with advice from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and the government’s fire risk means of escape for disabled people.

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, and how that plan for them will be implemented.

When someone is enrolled in a school, their Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) should be developed as part of the admissions process. Care should be taken that all disabled students are provided with a PEEP if they need one, whether they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or not.

The evacuation procedures used must not rely on a fire service rescue. Students should not be taken to areas of the premises where they cannot safely be evacuated from.

It is not the responsibility of the occupational therapist involved in a student’s care to provide a school with a risk assessment or PEEP. The information contained in the fire risk means of escape for disabled people is fully comprehensive with a clear matrix (appendix 1, page 41) for every type of escape.

There are a range of escape techniques, depending on the needs of the individual and the escape route. Some escape techniques involve transferring a student into specialist equipment, such as an evacuation chair or stair climber.

Some evacuation equipment is shown below to support schools in their decision-making. This is not a fully comprehensive list.

The student’s occupational therapist can provide advice relating to the most appropriate moving and handling method to transfer a student from their personal wheelchair to a specialist chair or piece of equipment for fire evacuation.

It is the responsibility of the school to train people on how to move and handle equipment and the evacuation chair. Some techniques will involve a risk assessment and significant moving and handling skills, so none of those techniques should be attempted without appropriate training, particularly carry-down escape techniques.

Moving and handling training should be sought through the school’s moving and handling trainer or via Fusion Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) hub. You can contact Fusion via their email address enquires@fusionsendhub.co.uk.

Evacuation equipment options

Lifting mats

Standard evacuation chairs

Evacuation chairs with support

Evacuation chairs reclined

Carry down in own wheelchair

If you need to carry someone down in their own wheelchair, have 2 or more people help carry them/ Hold onto fixed points on the chair.

Consider the type of wheelchair and the weight of it with the person on.

Stair climber

Wheelchair lifts (for manual wheelchairs)

Wheelchair platforms (for powered wheelchairs)

Lift override

Changing a lift from powered to manual override and accessing the lift for evacuation.

Transfer options

Manual lifting slings

Mobile hoist

Consider where and how to store this so it is not a trip hazard.