4 Vital Reasons You Should Use Our Evacuation Chairs
People can be disadvantaged by reduced mobility for many reasons, such as age, illness, intellectual deficiency, sensory issues, or physical disability. This limitation can not only affect their ability to travel, but it can also affect their safety during emergencies.
At Evacuscape – we’ve created a solution in the shape of our emergency evacuation chairs, designed to assist people with reduced mobility (PRM) quickly and safely exit via stairs during an evacuation. Whether you’re a person disadvantaged by reduced mobility, know such a person in your family, or directly take care of such a person, there are several good reasons why you should use our evacuation chair:
#1 Our Evacuation Chairs Can Help Save Lives
In the unlikely event that a disaster such as fire strikes an apartment, condominium, or multistory house, and requires evacuation, people are advised not to use the elevators for some of the following reasons.
- A fire could activate a call button on a floor on fire, leaving the elevator stuck there
- A fire can cause a blackout, leaving the elevator non-operational in between floors with people inside
- If many inhabitants of a building try to evacuate at the same time, the elevator could get overcrowded and stopping at every floor
- The elevator shaft can quickly fill up with smoke causing serious harm to people inside an elevator
- In some situations, firefighters may need to use the elevator
Instead, people are advised to stay calm, stay low, try to alert and help others, and evacuate using the stairs. However, this can be challenging for people with reduced mobility (PRM), especially when there are crowds of people trying to exit the building at the same time. Here, our evacuation chair can play a crucial role in helping such people safely and comfortably leave a building. Here are some people who can benefit from our chair in an emergency:
- People with reduced mobility
- The elderly
- The physically disabled
- People with medical conditions
- Pregnant women
- The blind
- People with temporary injuries
- Anyone uncomfortable using the stairs
Keep in mind that people with disabilities and reduced mobility are at greater risk of injury or death in the event of a fire according to various studies. Disabled and bedridden individuals account for 8% of all fire-related deaths and 2% of all fire-related injuries, while people over the age of 65 account for 18% of all fire-related deaths and 7% of all fire-related injuries in Canada.
- In Canada, over 13% of the population is over the age of 65 with half of such people carry some type of disability. The number of at-risk Canadians will only increase as the population ages.
- In the United States, 15.2% of the population is over the age of 65. Meanwhile, over 30 percent of Americans over the age of 65 and over 50% of Americans over 75 have some type of disability.
- In the United Kingdom, 18% of the population is over the age of 65. Meanwhile, older adults at the State Pension age account for 45% of the country’s disabled population.
- In the EU, 19.2% of the population is over the age of 65 with a significant percentage reporting a disability.
Remember, a fire is just an example of an emergency where the Evacuscape chair can be used. It can also be vital in a power failure, flood, earthquake, or an emergency drill or alarm.
#2 Our Evacuation Chairs Are Easily Trainable
Created and manufactured in the UK, the Evacuscape chair is specifically designed to allow an individual to transport a person quickly and safely downstairs during an evacuation. And despite its lightweight, the chair can carry a weight of 180kg or 400lbs.
Moreover, it’s easy to learn how to properly carry out an evacuation using the Evacuscape chair by watching the training videos on our website or using the training DVD that comes with the chair. You can see our chairs in action on our website where the easy-to-follow videos are available in English and Fresh and show the various functions and features of our products.
#3 Our Evacuation Chairs Are Versatile
Our evacuation chairs can be used in emergencies as stair chairs and for mobility as transport chairs. The ec1 model weighs only 12.5 kg or 27.5lbs while the ec2 weighs just 14.5kg or 32lbs. Due to this lightweight, comfort, and mobility, our chairs are preferred by many customers as transport chairs.
To use the Evacuscape chair in transit mode over flat surfaces smoothly and easily, follow the following steps:
- Take off the cover and remove the Evacuscape chair from the wall-mounted bracket or storage position
- Undo the seatbelt to lower the seat
- Push the seat down until it is fully deployed
- Pull the rear wheels out until they lock
- Pull out the adjustable pins and lift the handle until it locks
To change from transit mode to descent mode, change your hand position from top grip to mid grip, tilt the evacuation chair forward until it stops, push the rear wheel forward until it folds into the frame. Now, you can push the chair confidently down the first steps so that the track grips the edge of the stairs Once you are down the stairs, pull out the rear wheels to convert the chair back into transit mode. When you’re done, you can fold and store the chair easily and conveniently.
Remember, it’s important to watch the training videos and practice evacuation drills regularly to get the most out of the Evacuscape chair.
#4 Our Evacuation Chairs Are Cost-Effective
At Evacuscape, we have two evacuation chair models available at different price points with different features. Compared to our competitors, our chairs are more cost-effective, with features that set us apart from the competition such as a wall bracket and dust cover, patented track braking mechanism, quick opening design, wheel locking brakes, five-point harness, padded seat and backrest, foldable front carry handle, and emergency under seat light.
These are just some of the reasons why the Evacuscape chair is the best choice for people with reduced mobility (PRM). Not only are our products safe, comfortable, easy-to-use, reliable, cost-effective, and versatile, but they’re a vital tool in an emergency.
Feel free to contact us anytime by sending us an email, phone or fax to place an order or to simply learn more about our products. Our professional and friendly staff are waiting to answer any questions or concerns.
