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What are wheelchair-bound people to do when a building alarm disables elevators? (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 3 months ago by some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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We had a false alarm go off in the building where I work last week. The elevators automatically shut down forcing the use of the fire escapes. The building is 22 floors. I was lucky in that I’d just taken the elevator to the first floor to step outside on a break. When they finally let us back in, I wondered what someone with mobility issues is expected to do had the building been on fire. Just die? Have a kind soul carry them? With most people wfh at least a couple of days per week, this seems really dangerous for anyone who might get stranded.

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[-] Stabbi@midwest.social 80 points 3 months ago

We die.

When I was in engineering school, I was lucky enough to have a based professor. He would start lessons by describing a tragedy. A paraplegic burns to death in a stairwell, another cracks their skull after being pushed down the stairs. He would then show us solutions to these issues from long before the tragedy. Slides to carry you down, bags you sit in and use the rails as a slide. Fire safe rooms that you could shelter in and can be accessed from the outside.

This also does not simply affect us disabled fucks. Say there is an earthquake, and you shatter a leg, or worse, your hip. You are now in the same stairwell as the rest of us.

Also, god help you if you're overweight. When my legs stopped working, I gained 200lbs. I knew then and know now that if I am in a burning building, I will be the last one out, if I get out.

[-] AA5B@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago

As an able overweight guy, if I get hurt or something there’s no way anyone is helping me get out in an emergency.

[-] GBU_28@lemm.ee 10 points 3 months ago

Former firefighter here: myself and my colleagues worked very hard on our strength and fitness. Dragging a person who weighs 250 + lbs over carpet , while wearing gear+ scba is the hardest physical thing I've ever done. I thought my heart was going to explode once I got to the yard and I only moved from the back to the front (plus some turns) of a residence before I got helped.

[-] Stabbi@midwest.social 1 points 3 months ago

Which especially sucks as 250 for anyone over 6' is barely above average. At my peak, I was 320

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this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2024

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