The Cabildo of Lanzarote and APSAL join forces for more inclusive and safe emergencies

The counselor of Social Welfare and Inclusion, Marci Acuña, and the counselor of the Security and Emergencies Consortium, Francisco Aparicio, recently held a working meeting with representatives of the Association of Deaf People of Arrecife and Lanzarote (Apsal) to advance in new accessible communication tools linked to emergency situations.

A meeting that is part of the development of the Insular Strategy for Accessibility and Inclusion 2024-2030, reinforcing coordination between the areas of Social Welfare and Inclusion and the Consortium of Security and Emergencies to ensure that information and resources related to citizen protection reach the entire population on equal terms. 

The counselor Marci Acuña stressed that “accessibility must also be present in prevention and emergency response systems, because we are talking about guaranteeing basic rights and reducing situations of vulnerability”. Likewise, he added that “the Insular Strategy for Accessibility and Inclusion must translate into concrete actions that improve people's daily lives and allow any citizen to access essential information on equal terms”.

For his part, Aparicio pointed out that “security and the capacity for reaction in an emergency cannot depend on a communication barrier.” The counselor explained that “from the Consortium, work is being done to adapt protocols and tools to the reality of the entire population, incorporating training and resources that allow for more effective and accessible care.”

Among the planned actions is the creation of a series of educational videos focused on high-priority content, such as protocols for action in case of fire or basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) maneuvers, which will be adapted to facilitate their understanding by people with hearing disabilities.

The collaboration with APSAL will allow defining both the most suitable formats and contents to guarantee the real utility of these materials in contexts where the speed and clarity of information are fundamental.

Specialized training for security forces

Within this line of work, the Cabildo de Lanzarote will develop, on June 9, a training day aimed at the security and emergency bodies of Lanzarote and La Graciosa.

The training will be provided by ILUNION, an entity belonging to the ONCE Social Group, specialized in universal accessibility and inclusion, and will focus on attention and action in emergency situations with people with disabilities.

This initiative is part of the Protocol of Action in Emergency Situations with People with Disabilities promoted at the state level, and will allow professionals to be equipped with specific tools to improve the response and coordination in risk interventions.