Plain Dealer Article

[Guest guest]

Hello to all.Today's PD Metro section reported refuges being used instead of evacuating some disabled children.My heart stopped when I read this article. I will not sleep well tonight knowing that disabled children are placed in these situations. I can't believe that no one can come up with a better plan like placing children closest to the exits or how about not placing them on the second floor? I hope if there is a parent who has a child in a wheel chair or has mobility issues, or issues that would place a child on the refuge list that you have been informed on the evacuation plan for your child. My heart goes out to these little ones.

Best,Sandee Winkelmanhttp://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/119356069289940.xml & coll=2

Schools create fire refuges for disabled students

Sunday, October 28,

2007 Townsend

Plain Dealer Reporter

In an era of bomb threats, lockdowns and other emergencies

once thought unimaginable, clearing out a school in case of

fire would seem to be a well-practiced routine.

But what happens if a child has a disability that hampers

a swift evacuation?

Some schools, especially those with more than one floor,

opt to use a room or closed-off stairwell where people who

can't be moved quickly will wait for firefighters to

come to the rescue.