Paralympian Tanni Grey Thompson heading to Wirral for launch of new emergency evacuation scheme for the disabled

Sep 12 2012 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

ACCLAIMED former Paralympian Tanni Grey Thompson is visiting Wirral later this month for an event which will launch a new emergency evacuation scheme for people with disabilities.

The Disabled People’s Evacuation Programme will be unveiled at the Access Association conference on disability access, which takes place at the Floral Pavilion, New Brighton on Tuesday, September 25.

The council says the move has been prompted by an increase in people with disabilities using council buildings such as sports and leisure centres.

The programme will be offered free to carers and disabled people using council buildings across Wirral.

It is hoped it can be rolled out to other public authorities and organisations across the country.

Councillor Anne McArdle, Wirral Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said: “Most existing techniques rely on specialist techniques or equipment such as special evacuation chairs.

“One of the reasons this programme is different and so effective is that it doesn't rely on either of these being available; the evacuation is designed around what the disabled individual is able to do for themselves and what assistance they will require.

“This means managers don't have to worry if there is enough equipment available or sufficient numbers of people who are specially trained to use the equipment in the event of an emergency.

“They can instead use easy techniques that require no specialist training or preparation.”

Ged Smyth of the council’s Corporate Equalities Team has been working with facililities managers and their staff to develop the programme.

The council has also consulted people with disabilities and their carers.

For more information call Ged Smyth on 691 8217 or e-mail gerardsmyth@wirral.gov.uk