For an individual to respond in a manner that will allow them the opportunity to safely leave a building during a fire emergency, they must be able to process and understand information. Since cognitive disabilities impact an individual’s ability to process and understand information the needs of this group of persons must be carefully considered when planning for and responding to fire emergencies. To adequately address their needs emergency managers and caregivers must ensure the following:
- An assessment of each person with cognitive disability is done to determine the extent to which they can; recognize, understand and respond appropriately to the building’s emergency notification system (fire alarm system) as well as find, identify and use exit pathways.
- Suitable information sharing techniques are used to impart knowledge of the appropriate response to fire emergency situations, based on the determined level of cognitive disability.
- Appropriately trained indviduals are selected to provide assistance to persons with cognitive disabilities during emergency evacuation
- An emergency evacuation plan is prepared and tested to determine its suitability for the persons it is intended to.
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