Everything You Need to Know about Evacuation Chairs
Here at Evacuscape, we believe everyone has a right to safety. That’s why we’ve spent nearly ten years distributing evacuation chairs, so no one gets left behind in an emergency.
While we’ve spent the better part of a decade providing our evacuation chair to anyone with reduced mobility, we realize it’s a niche product. Not everyone has an intimate understanding of this mobility tool like we do.
That’s why today, we’re stripping it down to the bare essentials, so you know what it is, who it’s for, and how it works. Keep scrolling to find out everything you need to know about evacuation chairs.
What is an Evacuation Chair?
An evacuation chair is a tool that helps people with reduced mobility, offering a safe and comfortable way to descend stairs in an emergency.
In many emergencies, a building’s elevators lose power, making the stairways the only point of safe evacuation from multi-storied buildings. An evacuation chair allows people to use the stairs safely in event of medical emergencies, earthquakes, fires, and more.
You may have heard it referred to as something else, such as a stair chair or escape chair. Whatever you call it, an evacuation chair is an essential accessibility tool that saves people’s lives.
Who Can Use Evacuation Chairs?
Our evacuation chairs help people with reduced mobility to descend stairs quickly and safely during an emergency. Anyone who is unable to evacuate by descending stairs may use this tool.
This may include a broad spectrum of people of all ages and backgrounds. As an accessibility tool, the Evacuchair is available for anyone who thinks they need it including, but not limited to, the following groups.
Individuals with Mobility Tools
Equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches make it easier for people with mobility disabilities to get around, but they can be difficult (if not impossible) to maneuver down stairs. An escape chair is a safer tool designed specifically for this function.
Injured Individuals
Any injury that interferes with walking or climbing may slow down a person’s evacuation, and in an emergency, there’s no time to waste. Escape chairs can help these injured people exit a building faster, even if they don’t typically require mobility tools.
Physically Disabled Individuals
Physical impairments may limit someone’s ability to move in a quick or coordinated fashion. Evacuation chairs give disabled people a safe way to make an emergency exit.
Pregnant People
Pregnancy increases a person’s risk of injury and at the same time it limits their full range of motion. An escape chair should be made available for any pregnant person who worries about descending stairs rapidly.
Seniors
Mobility becomes more of a challenge as we age, so it’s important all seniors have access to an evacuation chair — whether they live in a multi-story apartment, retirement community, or senior home.
When is a Stair Chair Necessary?
An evacuation chair may be used any time it’s necessary to evacuate a multi-storied building when it’s unsafe to use the elevators. This may include natural disasters, such as fires, floods, and earthquakes, as well as power outages and fire drills.
Where Can You Find an Escape Chair?
Generally, any building that has more than one story may invest in this accessibility tool. Hospitals, offices, and senior homes are just a few examples of multi-storied properties that need to accommodate people with reduced mobility.
If a building is properly equipped with these tools, they should be stored on every level near each of the emergency stairwells. They collapse for easy storage, making it easy to keep near a staircase in your home, too.
What Kinds of Evacuation Chairs Do We Offer?
Here at Evacuscape, we offer two elite models to suit different needs. Both are backed by our 10-year warranty for the frame and 1-year warranty for all wheels, tracks, and braking systems. We also provide a protective cover, wall bracket, and training DVD, so you can store and operate these chairs safely.
For more information on how the evacuation chairs differ, let’s take a look at a quick breakdown below.
The EC1
The EC1 is our high quality and low cost model that’s designed to support up to 180 kg (400 lbs) while only weighing 12.5 kg (27.5lbs) itself. Its lightweight design is easy enough for one person to operate.
The EC1 comes equipped with the following features:
- Under seat light
- Speed reducing V belt track
- Lap safety belt
- Head restraint strap
- Solid padded seat and backrest
- Locking rear wheel castors
The EC2
The second model also supports up to 180kg (400 lbs), but it weighs slightly more at 14.5kg (32lbs) due to its extra features. In addition to the above features it shares with EC1, it also boasts these add-ons:
- Detachable front carry handle
- Fail safe braking system
- 5-point harness and head restraint strap
How Do They Work?
Both chairs are designed to be used by one person who will operate the chair once the person with reduced mobility straps in. They are lightweight, ergonomic, and easy to push along flat surfaces, and their tracks rely on friction to allow hassle-free control during the glide downstairs.
Those are the basics, but sometimes, you need to watch something to understand how it works. Check out this video to see a demonstration of our evacuation chair in action.
We’re Here to Help You Out
There you have it. This quick guide shares the basics of what our mobility tools can do, giving you a primer on the evacuation chair. If you’re ready to learn more about how you might add one to your home or business, get in touch.
Whether you’re a property manager, workplace safety professional, or a concerned child of an elderly parent, pick up the phone or send us an email. One of our knowledgeable representatives is waiting to discuss how you can add an evacuation chair to your emergency preparedness plans.
