Head for the Stairs in a Fire? The Paradox in Fire Response Manuals for People with Disabilities

The fire response manual for people with disabilities is reportedly out of touch with reality.

Yes, a mother in her 60s with a brain lesion and her son tragically died recently while trying to escape a fire at an apartment building in Gangseo-gu, Seoul.

However, government-issued fire response materials for people with disabilities advise them to evacuate quickly via stairs rather than elevators in the event of a fire.

For individuals who use wheelchairs or have mobility impairments, evacuating via stairs is virtually impossible.

Even in cases where self-evacuation is difficult, the guidelines instruct people to ask for help and evacuate by carrying, piggybacking, or dragging the person with a disability.

Disability support workers pointed out that carrying a person with mobility issues down the stairs from a high-rise floor is realistically difficult, emphasizing the need for evacuation guidelines that take into account specific types of disabilities.

Furthermore, disability advocacy groups stressed that rather than merely emphasizing self-evacuation, authorities should strengthen early fire response facilities such as sprinklers and establish tailored measures that consider disability types, floor levels, and the presence of support workers.

(Photo courtesy of Gangseo Fire Station, Seoul)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.