Between 2011 and 2015, there were approximately 5,750 fires annually in healthcare facilities. During this time span, healthcare facility fires cause an average of two civilian deaths, 157 civilian injuries, and $50.4 billion in damages. While NFPA 101, Life Safety Code requires that workplaces, healthcare facilities, and other occupied buildings provide evacuation plan information and routinely schedule and hold drills when possible, this does not always guarantee that the availability to help those in need during an evacuation or the procedures involved will always be upheld in an emergency situation.

How could the civilian fatalities and injuries have been prevented?

For people with mobility problems, stairs often are the biggest obstacle they’ll face if they want to remain in their own homes. And, even if they are unable to remain in their own home, it is still essential to have a backup mobility plan in a healthcare facility that houses individuals incapable of climbing/descending stairs. With a handicap stair chair, any stairway can become a stair lift.

With over 35 years of experience the original handicap stair chair, manufactured by Evac+Chair® of North America, was placed in the World Trade Center Museum, displayed for saving the lives of several individuals that were confined to a wheelchair during the 9/11 attacks. Evac+Chair® of North America is now a permanent part of American history for saving lives during the World Trade Center Attack in New York City.

The handicap stair chair of Evac+Chair® is of unique construction which makes it easy for anyone with any type of impaired mobility (permanent and/or temporary) to be navigated up and/or down a staircase in a time of need. This handicap stair chair manufactured by Evac+Chair is engineered to maneuver smoothly and consistently using a patented continuous rotating V belt that ensures safety and allows the user to have total control of the chair’s descent speed down the stairs with relative ease, regardless of the passenger’s weight or size. The passenger is seated within a pocket seat that “cups” the body securely while also being strapped in and sitting only inches from the incline of the steps. All weight is supported by the stairs, not the straining arms of volunteers. It’s unique design allows first responders to assist anyone with mobility impairments with relative ease and doesn’t impede on other people moving throughout the stairwell freely.

There are plenty of copycat evac chair competitors, but as usual, the original is still the best. This handicap escape chair is simple. It works every time. It is intuitive so anyone can use it, even without training or instruction, and generally only one operator is required. For stairway descent the 300H, 500H, 600H and Power 800 require just one operator to guide the handicap evacuation chair and the person seated in it down the steps. The EVAC+CHAIR® does 90% of the work itself. There are no complicated add-ons to break. No gimmicky features to snag or fail. It simply works effectively and easily, and it does what it was designed to do: save lives when time counts the most. The Evac+Chair® can comfortably achieve two flights of stairs in 15 seconds, or four floors in a minute, without blocking the stairs for other users.

When you purchase a handicap stair chair directly from EVAC+CHAIR™ North America, you have complete peace of mind knowing your handicap stair chair is supplied by the manufacturer and guaranteed to be authentic and the highest possible quality standard. Offering a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty, EVAC+CHAIR™ certified products are rigorously and independently tested and assessed to ensure they exceed all fire and safety requirements and emergency response guidelines in the United States.