Evacuation Chair
Stryker Evacuation Chair
Here’s something you don’t see every day. Look at the photo on the right. What is that? Look close and you will see the cover says Stryker Evacuation Chair.
The Stryker Evacuation Chair is covered on their website and listed as “technology makes the chair ideal for the efficient evacuation of disabled or injured patients in multilevel facilities.” Features included on the website include:
Patented Stair-TREAD™ tracks allow easy evacuation down stairs by a single operator
Extendable handle allows operator to have a forward-facing, upright posture
Foot end lift handles also extend, allowing two caregivers to lift an evacuee over obstacles or up stairs
Note in the photo above that the chair is installed on a wall adjacent to a stair system. The photo below is from the Stryker website.
Stryker Evacuation Chair Model Number 6254 from Stryker Website
This is a clever idea! And the design appears to be workable. But, is it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
2010 ADA Standard 402.2, [Accessible Route] Components, states, “Accessible routes shall consist of one or more of the following components: walking surfaces with a running slope not steeper than 1:20, doorways, ramps, curb ramps excluding the flared sides, elevators, and platform lifts. All components of an accessible route shall comply with the applicable requirements of Chapter 4.” The 1991 ADA Standards for accessible routes are similar. Note that staircases are not considered part of an accessible route, even if equipped with an evacuation chair. And evacuation chairs are not covered in the ADA Standards.
As interesting as this is, there are some questions that must be raised.
Who is going to operate this chair?
What type of training should the operator have to use the chair?
Will there be enough time in an emergency to open the chair and put it to use?