Information About Emergency Evacuation for Persons with Physical Disabilities

I. Policy on Emergency Evacuation
University policy requires that all persons leave any facility where a fire alarm is activated as promptly as possible via the nearest available exit. No one is expected to unduly endanger him/herself in order to effect or assist with the evacuation of others and everyone has a duty to ensure that other occupants are aware of an emergency. Similarly faculty, supervisors and student leaders (“evacuation leaders”) are responsible for following the procedures set below.

II. Arrangements for Evacuation
Students, faculty and staff with disabilities are encouraged to discuss any individual evacuation issues with the Department of Safety and Security. In order to maximally assure safe exit from a building being evacuated, persons with disabilities are encouraged to make prior arrangements.

Arrangements for assistance are usually best accomplished between the individual requiring assistance and one or more of his/her peers in the form of a buddy plan. Persons with disabilities who are unable or unwilling to make arrangements on their own may contact the faculty or staff member in charge of a facility or activity to make arrangements for assistance with evacuation. Redundant arrangements should be made to ensure the needed assistance is provided when the primary provider is absent when an emergency occurs.

Persons with disabilities may not be readily identifiable to others. Anyone with a disability not readily apparent should inform the person in charge of the facility or activity if assistance with evacuation is required. Only persons directly involved need be made aware of arrangements for assistance.

III. Evacuation and Alternatives
The emergency evacuation alarm systems in University facilities include visual and audible signaling devices which alert persons with hearing impairments to alarm conditions. In residential facilities, signaling devices may be added or modified within individual units to accommodate a resident with a disability.

Elevators cannot be safely used for emergency egress and are typically programmed to cease operation when a fire alarm is activated. A wheelchair can be an unacceptable impediment to others using the stairway to evacuate, and may therefore have to be abandoned. There are techniques which can be used to evacuate a person with mobility impairments who has abandoned their wheelchair. These techniques must only be used after sufficient training and practice.

The following procedure should be used in the evacuation of a person with a disability who is unable to use the stairs or who is dependant upon equipment for mobility. Evacuation leaders(faculty, supervisors and student leaders) are responsible for the safe evacuation of all persons they supervise, organize or teach. The evacuation leader should direct or escort the person with a disability to an area of rescue assistance (enclosed stairwell landings) where that person can await assistance from emergency personnel in a position that does not impede or prevent emergency egress by other occupants. If the stairwell becomes smoke filled or otherwise untenable, proceed to another usable stairwell. If another stairwell is unavailable, take the person to a room which is habitable and close the door. From the nearest phone, dial 911 and give your name and exact location. The evacuation leader should then exit the area and immediately direct emergency personnel to the location of the person awaiting assistance. Any and all ambulatory occupants with a vision or hearing disability, should be evacuated along with other building occupants. Those subjects may benefit from an escort and should be assigned one from the class or work area.

IV. Questions
Questions pertaining to emergency procedures should be referred to the University Department of Safety and Security, ext 2298 on the UC or 4346 on the WCC.

Questions on ADA compliance and/or accommodations for persons with physical disabilities should be referred to the ADA Compliance Officer, extension 2384


University Campus Emergency Telephone Numbers
The University has installed emergency call boxes at these locations:

  • Ketchum Library
  • All Residence Halls
  • Security Office at 3 Hills Beach Road
  • Marcil Hall
  • Campus Center
  • River Parking Lot
  • LAC Parking Lot
  • Marine Science Center Driveway
  • Marine Science Center Entrance

These emergency call boxes enable the user to speak directly to a University switchboard operator or security officer without inserting money or dialing. To use the phone, simply depress the numbers of the extension you want or press the black “call button” and your call will be transferred to the University’s Switchboard. If reporting a life-threatening emergency or crime in progress, dial 911 or press the “emergency button” and your call will be transferred to the Biddeford Emergency Communication Center for police, fire and ambulance services. Describe the nature of the emergency, your name and location. If safe to do so, remain on the line until the operator has received all the necessary information from you. There is a courtesy phone available on every floor of each building on campus with emergency numbers and a university telephone directory posted in close proximity.

  Ambulance 911
  Fire 911
  Police 911
  Police-NonEmergency 282-5127
  Brighton Medical Center 603
  Crisis Hotline 606
  Poison Control 607
  Security-Emergency 366
  Southern Maine Medical Center 608
  Security-Non-Emergency 2298


Westbrook College Campus Emergency Telephone Numbers

The University has installed emergency call boxes at these locations:

  • Linnell Hall
  • Ginn and McDougall Hall
  • Abplanalp Library
  • Ludcke Parking Lot
  • Proctor Parking Lot

These emergency call boxes enable the user to speak directly to a University switchboard operator or security officer without inserting money or dialing. To use the phone, simply depress the numbers of the extension you want or press the black “call button” and your call will be transferred to the University’s switchboard. If reporting a life threatening emergency or crime in progress, dial 911 or press the “emergency button” and your call will be transferred to the Portland Emergency Communication Center for police, fire and ambulance services. Describe the nature of the emergency, your name and location. If safe to do so, remain on the line until the operator has received all the necessary information from you. There is a courtesy phone available on every floor of each building on campus with emergency numbers and a university telephone directory posted in close proximity.

  Ambulence 911
  Fire 911
  Police 911
  Police Non-emergency 601
  Fire Non-emergency 602
  Maine Medical Center 603
  Sexual Assult Crisis Line 605
  WCC Security-Emergency 366
  WCC Security Non-emergency 4000

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