Online News-NFPA President Calls for Emergency Planning to Address Needs of People With Disabilities
NFPA President James Shannon has called for the need to incorporate people with all types of disabilities into emergency planning.
The head of one of the world's leading safety organizations is calling on state and local safety officials, building owners, and facility managers to take additional steps to incorporate the needs of people with all types of disabilities into emergency planning. James M. Shannon, the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) president and CEO, is urging all those involved in emergency planning to fully address the safety of people with disabilities through careful planning and training before an emergency occurs.
"We know there have been times in which people who use wheelchairs were simply left behind during emergencies without any specific direction or instruction, presumably to wait for rescue," said Shannon. "That is just not acceptable. When people with disabilities go into a building, they deserve to know that there is an effective emergency plan in place that will keep them safe. And, these plans must be developed with input from accessibility experts and people with disabilities who will be affected by the plan."