Evacuation Planning for Hotels and Resorts

Although evacuation protocol is rarely the first thing on the mind of tourists, it should be at the forefront of every hotel’s emergency plan. When traveling, people expect to be protected in the event of an unforeseen circumstance. It is essential for hotel owners and management teams to develop a detailed evacuation plan should an unfortunate event occur.[1] The Evacuation Slyde by DQE is a rescue sled that can safely transport non-ambulatory patients in the event of an emergency.

Types of Hotel Emergencies

A variety of emergency situations can occur in a hotel or resort setting. Power outages, natural disasters, fires, and violent attacks are all circumstances that require immediate action. While we can hope that these unfortunate events never arise, hotel staff must be prepared to assist guests who are staying on the property. In some instances, an emergency situation requires evacuation. It is crucial to include an emergency escape plan should the need occur.

The Americans with Disabilities Act: Providing Safe Rescue for All Patrons

When developing your emergency preparedness plan, it is important to identify a variety of potential situations. One aspect of evacuation planning that many supervisors fail to recognize is rescuing non-ambulatory persons. In addition to designating specific escape routes, hotels and resorts must have lifesaving equipment at their disposal that will assist in the safe transport of disabled individuals, as intended by the Americans with Disabilities Act.[2]

The topic of disability justice is becoming more prevalent in today’s society. Disabled individuals have unique needs, as well as a legal right to have them addressed during emergency situations.[3] Additionally, if an otherwise mobile person sustains an injury during a crisis event, they must be moved to safety in an efficient and timely fashion. Therefore, a comprehensive plan that includes lifesaving equipment, such as the Slyde, is essential.

Incorporating Slyde into Your Evacuation Plan

Slyde is crafted from corrugated polypropylene, and is therefore incredibly lightweight. It is also durable, and able to withstand rigorous situations. In fact, Slyde was specifically designed to move effortlessly down stairs, over rough terrain, and across uneven surfaces.

Slyde is available in two sizes. Our standard sled can transport individuals up to 500 pounds. Bariatric Slyde is available for larger evacuees, and can safely move individuals up to 800 pounds.

A successful evacuation plan will allow quick access to all emergency equipment and devices. Slyde does not require much storage space, and can conveniently be kept near other lifesaving equipment, ready for use at any time. Each sled is foldable and stackable for easy storage.

Implement an Emergency Response Team

As part of your emergency preparedness plan, it is an excellent idea to develop a crisis response team. These individuals can be trained to oversee an evacuation during an emergency situation. An effective response team can be implemented by assigning four primary roles[4]:

• Point of Contact: This person should determine when an evacuation is required, and perform all necessary communication with emergency services.
• Coordinator: Once an evacuation is in effect, the coordinator should secure the premises, and check all rooms for people left behind.
• Head Counter: This person should be stationed outside to make sure all persons are accounted for.
• First Aid and Medical Attention: Multiple members of the staff should be trained in basic first aid and evacuation procedures. The people on this team would be responsible for assembling and implementing use of Slyde for any immobile, non-ambulatory individuals.

Members of the emergency response team should undergo emergency training so they are well-prepared when the unforeseen happens. Additionally, frequent drills should be conducted so that protocols are second nature should a real emergency arise.

Learn More about the Evacuation Slyde

Consider how the Evacuation Slyde can become an integral part of your emergency preparedness plan. To obtain more information, you can visit our online resource center.

[1] http://www.adahospitality.org/content/Emergency-Planning-Lodging

[2] https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/titleIII_2010/titleIII_2010_regulations.htm

[3] https://www.safetyinfo.com/emergency-ada-evacuation-disabled-free-index/

[4] https://safetymanagement.eku.edu/resources/articles/the-importance-of-having-an-evacuation-plan/