What to do - Assistance to sensorial disabled people
Giving assistance to people with disabilities in emergency situations requires some special precautions.
These suggestions can and should be of everyone's interest, even if in our family do not live people with disabilities:in emergency it is highly possible to rescue not only their family but also friends, colleagues, acquaintances, neighbours, classmates, strangers who may need help. It is good that everyone has at least the basics for giving assistance to disabled people.
People with hearing disabilities
Facilitate lip-reading, you will avoid misunderstandings and facilitate the rescue:
- When you talk, keep your head still and place your face at eye level of the interlocutor
- Speak clearly, if possible with a correct pronunciation, using short sentences in a normal tone
- Type in the letters names and words that you cannot communicate
- Keep a distance of less than five feet
- Even people with hearing prothesis have difficulties in fully understandingment the speech, then try to follow the same precautions.
People with visual disabilities
- Announce your presence and speak clearly
- Explain the real danger
- Avoid switching to a third person in the conversation
- Describe actions to be taken in advance
- Help the person along the way you deem most appropriate, letting them rest on your shoulder and slightly behind
- Announce the presence of obstacles such as stairs, doors, or other situations prevented
- If you accompany more of one person at a time with the same difficulties, help them to hold hands
- Do not leave the person once you get to a place out of danger, but make sure they are in company