by cellomould 7 Replies latest jw friends
...what happens to the disabled during a fire when the buildings' elevators are not to be used?
Are they expected to use the stairs? Why is the public not informed about this aspect of emergency preparedness?
There are guidlines available; I have checked online. However, it doesn't help if only the disabled are familiar with them. The general public should know what to do in case of emergencies too.
cellomould
"My toes taste really good" J.R. Brown
I'm not partial or prejediced. In the case of a fire, they'll get pushed out of my way along with everyone else.
I hope you aren't serious, Naeblis.
If just a few others respond as you do, you would really have no hope of making it out alive.
Have you ever been in a nearly-suffocating crowd of people? You cannot push people out of your way. It simply doesn't work. You may hurt people, but you will get trampled too.
I was in Peru three years ago in a crowd on one of the popular saints' days. There was no external danger whatsoever as everyone left the plaza, except for the small pushes which propogated along to become huge waves. Still, I think some people could have been seriously injured.
I thought a woman next to me would lose her baby in her arms. I was shoved right into her. I can't adequately describe how I felt at the time, but it was not a nice feeling at all.
I am fairly certain the baby survived, but I don't know what injuries may have been sustained.
Imagining being in that situation during a disaster is more than frightening.
cellomould
"My toes taste really good" J.R. Brown
Well your first mistake was that you were in Peru. Your second mistake was not grabbing the baby. Black market man. Black market.
Most people panic under crisis, while others are at their best, odd, but why? Have you seen people who can't stand the sight of blood while other people are known to pick up cars when a fellow human is pinned underneath it. Most people think of 'personal' survival while others put their lives on the line such as the firemen and policemen who died helping others at the WTC. Mind you it's their jobs, however given under stressful situations they would be the first to jump in to aid others. I remember a policeman who jumped in a raging river to save a women and he ended dying because he didn't know how to swim!
In general people are complacent and apathetic. Do these people lack personal motivation? Do they have goals in their lives? Some people just 'need' to be a Dear Abbey to everyone while neglecting their own needs and family, where's the logic?
It's an interesting topic and everyone should reflect on it. Do we or do we not care? What is our motivation? I personally hinge everything on the simple word, 'respect.' Respect for others and ourselves, everything else will fall into place.
Guest 77
I heard an account of a fireman in the building on Sep 11.
When they were clearing the second building (which came down on top of him) he came to a room where *all* the disabled etc... had congregated as they could not get down.
I don't know what sort of alternative arrangement could be made except perhaps making sure that disabled people worked on lower floors perhaps?
Being disabled myself and working in a building with elevators, I am required to go to the stairwell landing and wait for the firefighters. Also, some businesses ask for an employee to volunteer to stay with the disabled person as well. While the firefighters are trained to go to these spots to look for people in wheelchairs, etc., then carry them down to safety, if that doesn't seem feasible, then this employee has legally volunteered to get you to safety.
Now that doesn't preclude a civilian doing the same thing for me. It is pretty crazy on those stairs even during a drill.
I read that some civilians did just that at the WTC disaster, carried disabled people down the stairs piggyback.
It's good to know that at least some employers are concious of these difficulties, Blondie. Thanks everyone for the discussion.
cellomould
"There is no principle worth the name if it is not wholly good.Gandhi
