Emergency planning for disabled people and carers

You may need to do extra planning if you or someone in your home has:

• a disability
• a long-term health condition
• additional communication needs

Emergencies can create additional barriers if you’re disabled or have long-term health conditions. Planning ahead can help you find solutions and make sure people know how best to support you if needed.

Leaving your home safely

Think about how you can leave your home if normal routes or services are unavailable.

For example:

• how you would leave if you could not use a lift
• whether stairs would be difficult to use
• whether you need evacuation equipment, such as an evacuation chair
• whether furniture or other items could block escape routes
• who could help you leave safely

If you have an assistance dog, include arrangements for their food, water, transport and evacuation.

Choosing accessible meeting places

Your emergency plan should include meeting places that work for everyone in your household.

Depending on your needs, an accessible meeting place may have:

• step-free access
• accessible toilets
• safe routes for wheelchair users or people with limited mobility
• access to public transport
• a quieter or low-sensory environment

If you use mobility equipment

Think about how you can leave your home if you use:

• a wheelchair
• a mobility scooter
• a walker or walking aid

You may want to include in your emergency plan:

• accessible exits from your home
• alternative routes
• people who can help during an evacuation
• any equipment you need to transfer or move safely
• where you store mobility aids and how quickly you can access them

Keep essential mobility equipment within easy reach, including during the night.

If you're deaf or hard of hearing

You can sign up to the emergencySMS service. This allows you to text 999.

You need to register in advance. Text ‘register’ to 999 to sign up.

If you use medical or assistive equipment

Some equipment may stop working during a power cut. For example:

• ventilators
• oxygen concentrators
• electric wheelchairs
• hoists
• communication devices
• feeding pumps

Include in your emergency plan:

• backup power arrangements
• instructions for operating equipment
• maintenance information
• what you would do during a long power outage
• a copy of the emergency and service continuity policy from your care agency

If you use a telecare system or devices that rely on a phone line

Tell your phone and broadband provider if you use a telecare system or any device that relies on your phone line.

They'll assess your needs and may provide a free battery backup for you and have engineers test it.

This will make sure your care alarms and other important devices continue to work even during a power cut.

Get extra help from utility companies 

Your utility company can give you extra support through the Priority Services Register. You can get this if you:

• use medical equipment that needs power or water
• are disabled or have a long-term health condition
• live with children under 5
• are over 60

If you get care or support services

If you rely on carers, support workers or personal assistants, make sure they know about your emergency plan.

Your plan should include:

• important contact details
• any essential daily support tasks
• medication requirements
• information about medical conditions
• alternative support arrangements if carers, support workers or personal assistants cannot reach you
• instructions for emergency responders if you have additional communication needs

You may also want to include information about:

• any assistance you may need
• any health or support needs emergency responders should know about

Think about whether family members, neighbours or friends could help if your usual support team cannot get to you.

Communication needs

Think about how you will get information and communicate with others during an emergency.

For example:

• information about how you communicate
• written instructions
• emergency contact information
• communication cards

This can be especially useful if you:

• use augmentative or alternative communication (AAC)
• find spoken communication difficult
• need information in plain language

Keep information in accessible formats

Your emergency plan should be available in a format you can use easily.

For example, this may include:

• large print
• audio
• a digital version that works with screen readers

Make sure anyone who may need to help you can access the information too.

If you care for someone with dementia

You can fill in a Herbert Protocol form. This can help police find them if they go missing. Find out more about the Herbert Protocol at Police Scotland.

Keep your plan up to date

Review your emergency plan every time your circumstances change. For example, after:

• moving home
• changes to equipment or medication
• changes in care arrangements
• changes in your health or mobility

Sharing up-to-date information with people who support you can help everyone respond more effectively during an emergency.