Written by: Kara B. Ayers
Fire safety is important in every home, but for people with disabilities, taking precautions and accessible planning can make all the difference in preventing tragedy. A few weeks ago I embarked on a journey to learn more about fire safety alongside other wheelchair users. The University of Illinois is testing a new program called Fire Readiness for Wheelchair Users. The program takes place over Zoom. Our group of four wheelchair users met with the program facilitator and a firefighter weekly for six weeks.
The Fire Readiness for Wheelchair Users Handbook that we used as our guide
through the six sessions is available online as a free resource to everyone. There
are also video modules that cover most of the material. The highlight of the
program for me was thinking and talking about my fire plan with our whole family.
The thought of a fire is scary, but I knew it was important to push past our fears to
talk about what we would do if a fire broke out in various parts of our house. We
talked about this over dinner a few nights ago so that we could involve everyone.
My kids range from 8 to 18, and they each had good ideas about how we might
respond. We also faced tough topics like the possibility that we might need to go
out different doors if we were separated by fire. Most importantly, we want them
to know how to survive and not put their safety at risk for us. We jotted down
ideas together in our Fire Safety Plan provided by the program, and I plan to
revisit them in a year or so.
Our family also spent some time talking about fire prevention. Instead of lit candles, I use candle warmers and we try to be conscious about the number of cords we have plugged into outlets and our use of the stove. In addition to fires, we want to prevent burns. Our group in the program came up with some great ideas for how to safely move pots with boiling water when we may not be strong
enough to lift or carry them fully to the sink. I’m reminded once again: People with disabilities are problem solvers!
Most of my thinking around fire safety lately has focused on a fire that would originate in our home but the risk for wildfires in other parts of the country is an increasing threat. Tragically, people with disabilities lost their lives in the LA
wildfires a few months ago. Next on my to-do list is making a list of our essential
household items and records to grab if I have at least a couple of of hours to
pack before an evacuation. Fire safety isn’t the most exciting or glamorous of
topics, and it’s easy to avoid because it’s scary to think about, but taking a few
minutes out of our busy lives to talk about how we might evacuate or purchase a
fire extinguisher that we can handle could make an enormous difference in our
lives and the lives of our family members.
