Problems faced by those with disabilities

[ClareBarr]

Hi,

I didn't know where to post this.

I had a very distressing experience at a cinema last night. I walk with a crutch, as I am disabled by a chronic pain condition (fibromyalgia) and also widespread hypersensitivity to touch (allodynia). There was a fire drill at the cinema shortly after the free film started. All the audience were going through the emergency exit door near the front of the screen by the time I had managed to (very slowly) get myself up and ready to walk with the aid of the crutch. There was no member of staff around (I had heard a voice saying "everyone please leave the building via the emergency exit", or similar, then proceeded to lead the crowd out. By the time I was standing & able to walk, the staff member had already gone, leading the audience down the (many) flights of stairs to street level).

My boyfriend found a member of staff, on the floor below. The lifts were out of order (usual in a fire alarm situation, I know). There was no way I could manage the hundreds of steps down to the street level - we were on the top floor of the cinema.

The member of staff offered to take me down the stairs "in the chair". Although I agreed to this (as I knew the stairs weren't an option), I didn't realise what this entailed. This was such a traumatic experience, it is hard to put into words. With the hypersensitivity, and the widespread pain I experience, this bumpy, uncomfortable journey down the stairs felt like a turbulent fairground ride to me. 

My boyfriend later called a cab for us, as I could not move by the time we reached the street level. I was in tears & in such intense pain by this time.

Even typing this more than 24 hours later, the whole experience has really exacerbated my pains. I could barely move today.

I'm just wondering if anyone else on here has experienced similar problems as a disabled customer at a cinema. I am going to write a strongly worded letter to the cinema (at their head office). I just felt like a second class citizen, and like the fire alarm / drill procedure hasn't been thought through for disabled people with various conditions.

I had invited a friend along to join my boyfriend and I to the film last night. She, like me, is also disabled. Thankfully, she couldn't make it - I dread to think how the staff would have coped if there were two of us needing to be wheeled down on these chairs. My friend has the same condition as me and would have found the whole thing just as painful as I did.

I don't want to not be able to go to the cinema again - but am not willing to ever go in these "evac chairs" ever again. What will the cinema do, if I flat out refuse to go in them?! There surely must be an alternative in this day and age.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Clare

[Sunny Saver]

Sorry to hear about your experience Clare.

What do you mean by 'in the chair'? The stairlift chair or just an ordinary chair they carried down or your wheelchair?

I'm not sure what the answer is. Obviously staff did the best they could, as if it was a real fire, it would have been more panicked and even more painful! If it could be the latter, as you sound s if you had an awful experience!

Hope you feel better soon and in less pain.

[McG]

OMG! It sounds as though you had a dreadful experience, Clare. I am very sorry to hear what you had to endure but sometimes it's only when the plan is used that problems are discovered. You are so right to question what would have happened if your friend had been there also requiring assistance. I hope I'm reading wrongly . . .surely you were not actually bumped down all the stairs as one might bump a pram downstairs?
I suspect that the manager will really appreciate your feedback as you have obviously discovered some major flaws in their fire evacuation procedure.
I can tell you that when I was teaching in a building with many floors, in the event of a fire, the plan was always that the wheelchair bound pupil was to be taken to the stairwell and was to remain there to be rescued by firemen once they arrived. There was a lot of disagreement about this at the time as various people said they could pick the said pupil up and carry them but this was an absolute no! The evac chair should only be used by those trained in it's use ie firemen or trained staff . . .not just anyone nearby!
I would definitely take the time to contact the cinema manager and tell him of your experiences as it's the only way that proper plans will be put in place . . . plus hopefully you will get some free passes to see the film you missed.

[ClareBarr]

Thank you Sunny Saver and McG for your kind comments and for taking the time to reply.

It was called an "evac chair" and I was told to "fall back into it until I'm comfortable". I had to hold the crutch with one hand and somehow lower myself into it, fell back into the chair with a thump, and when sitting in the chair your knees are raised up high above your waist - extremely uncomfortable for someone with chronic pain including in the legs and back.

I was told that the first few stairs would be bumpy. This literally did feel like I was in a pram at some points, feeling a lot of the bumps. Some of the journey down was smoother, but I never knew when the bumpy parts would be and they really jolted me.

Like you say McG, it's often not until these things are put into action that staff can see the problems that arise.

We never knew if it was a real emergency or just an alarm. If I were in this situation again, I think I may ask if it's just a drill, if so I'd rather just stay in the building!!

http://www.evac-chair.co.uk/uploads/ima ... -SMALL.jpg

[The Sparrow]

Hi,

I didn't know where to post this.

I had a very distressing experience at a cinema last night. I walk with a crutch, as I am disabled by a chronic pain condition (fibromyalgia) and also widespread hypersensitivity to touch (allodynia). There was a fire drill at the cinema shortly after the free film started. All the audience were going through the emergency exit door near the front of the screen by the time I had managed to (very slowly) get myself up and ready to walk with the aid of the crutch. There was no member of staff around (I had heard a voice saying "everyone please leave the building via the emergency exit", or similar, then proceeded to lead the crowd out. By the time I was standing & able to walk, the staff member had already gone, leading the audience down the (many) flights of stairs to street level).

My boyfriend found a member of staff, on the floor below. The lifts were out of order (usual in a fire alarm situation, I know). There was no way I could manage the hundreds of steps down to the street level - we were on the top floor of the cinema.

The member of staff offered to take me down the stairs "in the chair". Although I agreed to this (as I knew the stairs weren't an option), I didn't realise what this entailed. This was such a traumatic experience, it is hard to put into words. With the hypersensitivity, and the widespread pain I experience, this bumpy, uncomfortable journey down the stairs felt like a turbulent fairground ride to me. 

My boyfriend later called a cab for us, as I could not move by the time we reached the street level. I was in tears & in such intense pain by this time.

Even typing this more than 24 hours later, the whole experience has really exacerbated my pains. I could barely move today.

I'm just wondering if anyone else on here has experienced similar problems as a disabled customer at a cinema. I am going to write a strongly worded letter to the cinema (at their head office). I just felt like a second class citizen, and like the fire alarm / drill procedure hasn't been thought through for disabled people with various conditions.

I had invited a friend along to join my boyfriend and I to the film last night. She, like me, is also disabled. Thankfully, she couldn't make it - I dread to think how the staff would have coped if there were two of us needing to be wheeled down on these chairs. My friend has the same condition as me and would have found the whole thing just as painful as I did.

I don't want to not be able to go to the cinema again - but am not willing to ever go in these "evac chairs" ever again. What will the cinema do, if I flat out refuse to go in them?! There surely must be an alternative in this day and age.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Clare

Clare,
Forvie me I will have to read this thread in full later but cinemas and theatres etc should have a refuge area where disabled people can safely wait until the alert is over or can be rescued by firestaff if necessary.
Staff should have escorted you to that.
I made enquiries at my regular cinemas about this and asked to speak to the managers to ask for procedure. I would suggest you do the same.
In fact I have actually sat an alert out in a refuge area until it was all over. Just played a game on my phone

[ClareBarr]

Thanks The Sparrow, I'll look into this too. I'm amazed that walking down hundreds of stairs or going down there on a bumpy evac chair were the only options they gave me. There surely must be an alternative like the one you've suggested.

[The Sparrow]

Thanks The Sparrow, I'll look into this too. I'm amazed that walking down hundreds of stairs or going down there on a bumpy evac chair were the only options they gave me. There surely must be an alternative like the one you've suggested.

I'll quickly pm you. I am very late and my disabled transport will be here soon.

[ClareBarr]

Thanks x

[Sunny Saver]

OMG it looks like a wheelbarrow!

[ClareBarr]

Lol I know! :)