If you spend any time on the Direct Access website, you’ll notice that we use industry lingo and terms often. One of the terms is “Person with Reduced Mobility,” or PRM for short.
If you’ve never heard it before, you may not understand what it means, which is why we’re concentrating on those with restricted mobility. Find out who people with restricted mobility are and why evacuation chairs from Direct Access are such a vital piece of safety equipment.
What does it mean to be a person with restricted mobility?
A Person with Restricted Mobility (PRM) is someone who finds it difficult to move quickly or confidently due to physical or mental restrictions. These limitations might be permanent, temporary, minor, or major, and they can make it difficult for someone to get about.
There’s a strong chance you know someone who struggles with mobility. Mobility issues may be obvious, as many people who rely on mobility equipment on a regular basis are aware. However, a person’s mobility may be limited by a variety of hidden limitations. It’s vital not to make such generalizations about people. Mobility concerns may impact anybody of any age, gender, or ethnicity.
People with impairments cannot use the stairs.
PRMs face a variety of problems in their everyday lives. Simple acts and activities that non-disabled people take for granted may become difficult if mobility is a concern. In an emergency, one of these items is a safe building evacuation. Why? Because mobility issues may make it difficult for them to descend stairs safely and quickly.
Under normal circumstances, this may not be an issue. Elevators are needed by construction regulations in multi-story buildings so that staff and visitors, regardless of their physical condition, may easily move between floors. In order to protect their safety, a PRM may choose to climb or descend stairs as slowly as required.
Unfortunately, these elevators may not be accessible in an emergency. In an emergency, a speedy escape is critical for a safe evacuation. Even if a PRM is capable of handling the stairs on a regular basis, they may not have the time to safely descend them.
How evacuation chairs can help you with emergencies
An evacuation chair may be used by someone with restricted mobility to quickly down the stairs without risking their safety. It was designed to enable a single person to transport a PRM downstairs in the event of an evacuation.
Direct Access evacuation chairs include cushioned seats and safety belts for further comfort. Our stairway’s lightweight design makes it simple to operate for one person, and it can easily transport up to 400 pounds (180 kilograms) for a smooth descent to ground level.
When is it appropriate to acquire an evacuation chair?
In an emergency, your business may need to be evacuated for a number of reasons. Examples of these circumstances include but are not limited to them. For example, an evacuation chair that you use in a building during an explosion, false alarms, structural integrity, natural disasters, gas leaks, and fires. Even if there is a power outage and personal health crisis, you may think about purchasing a one.
Whatever the case, an evacuation chair may help those with restricted mobility swiftly climb the steps if elevators aren’t accessible.
What is the best way to utilize an evacuation chair?
At Direct Access, we understand that an emergency is a high-pressure situation. In an effective evacuation plan, there must be no room for confusion, since this will waste valuable time required to flee an emergency. That’s why our evacuation stair chair is intended to be deployed in just four simple steps.
The very first step is to remove the evacuation chair from the bracket. You will be able to remove the chair from its wall-mounted bracket. After that, you should go ahead and unbuckle the seat belt. This will help you to keep the seat in its upright position. The next step should be to extend the rear wheels of the chair, so that you can get it to lock and remain in place. After that, you may pull out the pins on the adjustable handle, so that it will properly lock into place.
If you follow these procedures, the evacuation chair is now ready for its user. Quickly change your grip to push on the rear wheels to prepare for a descent. This displays our cutting-edge tracking technology, which balances on the stairwell and slows your fall using friction.
The two models have somewhat different braking systems and harnesses. Regardless of type, the Direct Access evacuating chair for stairs is a notch above the competition. Check out our comparison of evacuation chairs to understand what we’re talking about.
Why would you want to utilize an evacuation chair?
A person with restricted mobility may use an evacuation chair to descend the stairs in the case of an emergency. This might include, but is not limited to, the following objects.
An escape chair is a vital part of senior health and safety since people’s flexibility, strength, and mobility deteriorate as they age. Those who are planning to start a family. Because their mobility is restricted owing to the weight they are carrying, pregnant women are at a higher risk of injury.
Individuals who are suffering from a medical condition. Asthma, arthritis, epilepsy, angina, vertigo, and other medical conditions might make evacuation difficult. Individuals who rely on assistive technology to go about. On the steps, wheelchairs, motorized scooters, and walkers are not permitted. An evacuation chair, on the other hand, is designed expressly for this function. A person may simply shift from their assistive equipment to a stair chair with a little help.
Make sure that you always stick to a brand that you can trust for purchasing your evacuation chair. You will surely fall in love with the results coming on your way as well.
