Egress Efficacy of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis During Simulated Evacuations

R.M. Kesler; A.E. Klieger; M.K. Boes; E.T. Hsiao-Wecksler; R.E. Klaren; Y.C. Learmonth; R.W. Motl; G.P. Horn

doi:10.1007/s10694-017-0668-9

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Egress Efficacy of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis During Simulated Evacuations

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Egress Efficacy of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis During Simulated Evacuations

R.M. Kesler, A.E. Klieger, M.K. Boes, E.T. Hsiao-Wecksler, R.E. Klaren, Y.C. Learmonth, R.W. Motl and G.P. Horn

Fire Technology, Vol.53(6), pp.2007-2021

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-017-0668-9

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Abstract

Expedited evacuation of commercial and residential structures in the event of an emergency may be more difficult for persons with physical movement disorders. There is a need to better characterize the impact of such disorders and provide movement data to improve evacuee and responder safety. We undertook a pilot, feasibility study that investigated the ability of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and controls without MS to walk along a 48 m long path that included five different door configurations with various opening hardware and closure mechanisms, both before and after a six-minute walk, simulating a long evacuation path. Persons with MS took longer to complete the evacuation circuit (102 vs. 31 s) and to pass through each door (average 4.8 vs. 1.4 s) compared to controls. During the six-minute walk, persons with MS had decreased walking speed (0.7 vs. 1.9 m/s). The MS population demonstrated more conservative gait biomechanics throughout the simulation, i.e., wider, shorter and slower steps. Timing and biomechanical differences between populations and the potential fatigue induced through an extended evacuation can be used to improve understanding of movement in populations with disabilities, and incorporate these data into estimation of flow rates during evacuation.

Details

Title: Egress Efficacy of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis During Simulated Evacuations
Authors/Creators: R.M. Kesler (Author/Creator) - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
A.E. Klieger (Author/Creator) - University of Maryland, College Park
M.K. Boes (Author/Creator) - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
E.T. Hsiao-Wecksler (Author/Creator) - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
R.E. Klaren (Author/Creator) - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Y.C. Learmonth (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
R.W. Motl (Author/Creator) - University of Alabama at Birmingham
G.P. Horn (Author/Creator) - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Publication Details: Fire Technology, Vol.53(6), pp.2007-2021
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Identifiers: 991005544037407891
Copyright: © 2017 The Author(s)
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Psychology and Exercise Science
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 4 Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Computer Science; 4.183 Transportation; 4.183.1813 Evacuation Modeling
Web Of Science research areas: Engineering, Multidisciplinary; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
ESI research areas: Materials Science