Fire evacuation skills training for institutionalized mentally retarded adults

Abstract

Abstract Thirty‐seven institutionalized mentally retarded clients were given time‐limited intensive group training in fire evacuation skills. Clients were trained to independently exit their residence within 2.5 minutes of the onset of a fire alarm in drills conducted during both day and night and with one of multiple exits blocked or unblocked. Three weeks of training produced a substantial increase in the percentage of clients passing training drills, and clients continued to improve at three and six month follow‐up periods. Six months after training, 18 of these clients had been independently certified capable of self‐preservation. A post‐hoc analysis of variables related to training outcome suggests that client choice of monetary reinforcers strongly predicted performance, while level of mental retardation, psychiatric diagnosis, and use of psychotropic medication did not.