1.0Prodigyhttps://www.prodigy-project.euGeorge Athanasiadishttps://www.prodigy-project.eu/index.php/author/george/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="vfk4WBYHx5"><a href="https://www.prodigy-project.eu/index.php/lesson/enstablish-the-emergancy-preparedness-context/">Emergency Preparedness</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.prodigy-project.eu/index.php/lesson/enstablish-the-emergancy-preparedness-context/embed/#?secret=vfk4WBYHx5" width="600" height="338" title="“Emergency Preparedness” — Prodigy" data-secret="vfk4WBYHx5" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.prodigy-project.eu/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> Barriers and opportunities The State Analysis Assessment Report is the first output of WP2. It is a state analysis that aims to depict the current situation across Europe regarding the inclusion of people with disabilities in emergency preparedness. The report was developed following interviews with experts, online surveys and desk-based research. The results of the state analysis showed that almost half of the respondents do not have an emergency preparedness plan for people with disabilities in their company’s emergency preparedness material. Alternatively, people with disabilities are included in the common plan, which means that they follow general instructions and not specific instructions that cater to their needs. This is a troubling finding because people with disabilities may face additional challenges and barriers during emergencies and disasters. The report also reveals that the largest percentage of respondents reported that their company does not provide all employees with training related to emergency preparedness with a focus on people with disabilities. Additionally, they do not have sufficient information to create accessible and safe workplaces for every person with a disability who either works or may visit their company. There is, therefore, a lack of information, awareness and training on this important issue, which could have serious consequences for the well-being and safety of disabled employees in the event of an emergency. At the same time, 32% of respondents do not have a dedicated expert on emergency preparedness, suggesting that there is room for improvement to enhance the preparedness and response capacity of some companies. Furthermore, 89% of respondents stated that they would benefit from specialized training on emergency preparedness, with a focus on people with disabilities. The most frequently preferred types of training are practical training (on-site) and simulation of the real situation in virtual reality. These types of training are practical, interactive, and provide realistic exposure and adaptability for people with disabilities. The report also highlights that employees with disabilities are often part of common training in most organizations, or else there is often no provision for specific instructions for these people. This suggests that often employees with disabilities do not receive specialized training and their training opportunities are unequal. Also, there is a lack of clarity and consistency among people with disabilities about what to do in emergency situations. The interviews conducted also examined whether all employees are aware of the emergency procedures for people with disabilities. The conclusion drawn from the responses is that there is a lack of awareness and training of employees on how to assist and evacuate people with disabilities during a crisis. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed by management and safety coordinators. Organizations shall provide an inclusive culture and support for employees with disabilities. The already possible general trainings provided would be extended with special trainings for and about people with disabilities. Finally, most of the experts interviewed indicated that they have flexible emergency preparedness materials that can be adapted to new government regulations or new situations in their company. The responses indicate that participants prefer hands-on training and e-learning as the main ways of learning. Hands-on training refers to activities that allow participants to apply their knowledge and skills in real or simulated situations. Taking into account all the above findings, a step-by-step methodological framework is proposed to promote disability-inclusive emergency planning in the workplace.   Stakeholder Map To ensure efficient coordination, it is necessary to prepare appropriate plans. Such plans should specify both the evacuation concept and depending on existing conditions, as well as determining the necessary resources to carry out this task. The condition for the effectiveness of the plan is its validity, which must be checked by regularly conducting an inventory of resources and verifying the adopted solutions. It is necessary to prepare a response plan in the event of a threat in the form of: preparation of orderly, logical, rational actions) in the form of standard operating procedures in crisis management plans for the evacuation of disabled persons taking into account the fact that disabled people do not form a uniform groups of people; information and educational activities, acquisition of evacuation skills by the disabled themselves through appropriate training during a potential threat. The implementation of an emergency preparedness plan should involve appropriately developed procedures and guidelines for dealing with emergencies, methods of alerting (even individual) disabled people, as well as additional responsibilities of other employees of the facility from which the emergency response is being carried out. When planning, the employer should pay attention to the type and degree of disability, the age of the disabled person and the possible use of assistance from other employees for evacuation purposes. Consideration should also be given to disabled visitors. For people with disabilities, safe evacuation should include: type and degree of disability and age of the evacuated persons, cooperation in evacuation on the part of other persons, e.g. employees and others at the time staying in the building. People with different disabilities also react differently to emergencies (Disability Etiquette): Visually impaired people have no fear of the dark and the moment threats perform appropriately described voice commands. People with hearing disabilities are not limited in their mobility and can walk on their own move around and carry out the demonstrated commands and evacuation activities. People with intellectual disabilities are physically fit and able to exercise evacuation activities and have a relatively high level of obedience to instructions from a person they know, e.g. an academic teacher. Persons with mobility disabilities have full and constant contact with the environment by means of all receptors and have no communication barriers. Considerations towards the methodology development Driving requirements The methodology provides a planning and decision-support framework to support target group in achieving disability inclusion in their emergency response plans. It sets out a series of steps needed for a successful emergency preparedness strategy in a consistent and harmonised way. The following aspects have been considered in the selection of key elements to include and analyse in the design ofhttps://www.prodigy-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Picture1-1024x464.png