When an emergency strikes, it is critical for everyone to take appropriate and deliberate action. If you observe a person with a disability having difficulty evacuating, remember to ask if assistance is needed before taking action. Inquire how best to assist the individual and whether any precautionary measures need to be taken or items need to accompany the person. Consider the following suggestions when assisting individuals with disabilities in an emergency.
Before an emergency:
Plan your emergency strategy when you first enter a building.
- Where will you go and what will you do if you need to evacuate the building?
- Who will be available to help you?
- Ask about the location of designated areas of evacuation assistance for upper floors if elevators cannot be used for evacuation.
- Risk Management, Safety and Security staff can assist employees and students with planning. Call 651.638.6400 or safety-security@bethel.edu
- Review more complete information about how to be prepared for emergencies on the Emergency Management confluence page.
- Self-identify that you have a disability to the University. Students can do so by notifying the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services at 651.638.6833 or accessibility-services@bethel.edu
- Employees can notify Human Resources at 651.638.6119 or bethelhr@bethel.edu
- Set up “buddy arrangements” for assistance with colleagues, students, or instructors.
- Persons in fixed locations (such as employees) should assist departments in developing an exit plan.
- Sign up for Bethel Alerts on myBethel to receive emergency text notification regarding serious campus-wide emergencies.
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