People with physical and mental disabilities are among the most vulnerable during crises. The reason is that they do not function normally and cannot run or hide from a calamity on their own; thus, they require assistance. This assistance is usually delayed, and as a result, people may be killed or gravely injured due to one of the natural disasters that impact a country or a location. As a result, it is critical to have a plan in place to ensure that these people are not victimized in the event of such an occurrence. Consequently, the strategy should successfully keep these people safe in a calamity.
People living with a disability can be helpless by themselves; therefore, a good plan is needed to make them safe in cases of emergency. First, before a disaster occurs, the government should be aware of the number of individuals in the scenario and keep track of them to verify the figures are correct (Gjertsen, 2019). Knowledge of the number of persons living with disabilities aids in determining the appropriate resources to invest in the program. The first stage is to identify persons who may require evacuation assistance. This goal can be accomplished by collaborating with local disability organizations or conducting a community poll. Once individuals have been identified, a database containing their contact information, medical information, and other pertinent information must be created. Emergency responders should have access to this information to swiftly and readily identify persons needing assistance. Following creating a database, the next stage is to devise a plan for evacuating people with impairments. This plan should contain a specified meeting location, a transportation system, and a way for communication with persons being evacuated. It is critical to test this strategy before an actual emergency to address any potential issues.
Those people who are unable to leave the area on their own can be evacuated in several different ways. Utilizing public transit, such as buses or trains, is one choice that can be made. Using personal modes of transportation, such as vehicles or ambulances, is an additional choice. It is of the utmost importance to ensure everyone can escape to a secure location in an emergency. After everyone has been safely removed from the area, the next priority is ensuring they receive the required medical attention and assistance. This action can involve giving them something to eat and drink and a place to sleep. Because many people may have experienced traumatic effects due to the accident, you must offer them psychological care. It is vital to take extensive measures to guarantee that all people unable to evacuate on their own will be able to do so securely. During times of crisis, it is possible to safely evacuate all individuals if it is first determined who among them needs aid, and then it is given to them what they require to meet their needs.
The plan can only be successful with much cooperation from the people involved in the process. This engagement is very important to ensure that the physically incapacitated people are not swept by crises such as hurricanes. It is also essential to understand that resources are vital, and with government support, the plan can be very successful. Adherence to this plan will guarantee the safe evacuation of individuals with physical and mental disabilities groups during crises.
Reference
Gjertsen, H. (2019). People with intellectual disabilities can speak for themselves! A methodological discussion of using people with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities as participants in living conditions studies. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 21(1), 141-149. Web.