By Natalie Vaughan
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

There is a fire on the UH-Clear Lake campus. Everything is hectic. People are scrambling to the stairwell exits as fast as possible. One man is left trapped by the flames on the third floor because he is mobility impaired and unable to use the stairs.

Gretchen Leger explains to Sean Murphy how to transfer Sarah Whitlock from her wheelchair into the Evacu-Track(above).
photo by David Rachita

This story is not true, but it could be if students, faculty and staff are not educated on the evacuation resources available to them. Evacu-Track is a device that enables students with mobility impairments to be transported down flights of stairs.

There are two Evacu-Track's in the Bayou Building: one on the second floor center stairwell and one on the third floor center stairwell. There is also one Evacu-Track located on the second floor stairwell of the Delta Building.

"The university has always been aware and had the training to meet the needs of people with mobility impairments," said Lt. Derrell Means, UH-Clear Lake Police Department. "However, it wasn't until UHCL student Sarah Whitlock brought these issues to the attention of the Health and Safety Committee that actual Œhands on training' was conducted, using Sarah with hands on application. We extracted her from her power chair and onto the Evacu-Track, where she was then taken down the stairs."

"We appreciate the willingness and openness of Sarah in dealing with these issues to better educate university personnel," Means said.

To operate the Evacu-Track: take the device out of case and pull open until it clicks; put the kickstand down and lift the person into the chair; strap the individual securely in and position the Evacu-Track at the top of the stairs at a right angle; push the Evacu-Track forward until the front wheel drops off the step; press the lever to descend down the stairs.

"This is an important safety item for students to be aware of," said Pamela Groves, environmental health and safety officer. "In a worse case scenario, they may need to assist those who need help. It would be good if students knew how to properly work these devices."

"I was completely unaware as to what this device is and also how to use it," said Josephine Tittsworth, social work/psychology student, who uses a power chair due to a heart condition. "I would recommend that the disabilities office ensure that all mobility disabled students, no matter what degree, should be signed off as trained. Do not wait until an emergency to find out. We should all know how to use [Evacu-track], where it is located and how many are needed based on how many people have needs."

For more information on Evacu-Track's or emergency evacuations, contact Sean Murphy in the Disability Center at (281) 283-2627.

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