When an alarm sounded at The Dispensary recently, RM’s response was nothing short of remarkable. Sitting in the atrium with staff members Lottie and Olivia, he immediately recognised the need to act and led them straight to the source of the alarm.
Without hesitation, RM then headed to his flat to collect his much-loved Teletubbies, Laa-Laa and Tinky Winky, slipped on his slippers, and returned to lead Lottie and Olivia out of the building. Together, they made their way safely to the annex, where RM waited calmly until the all-clear was given.
Deputy Manager Steph recalled, “RM took hold of Olivia’s hand and led her to the boiler room door. When it was clear they needed to evacuate, he grabbed his Teletubbies and guided Lottie and Olivia to the annex.”
This quick, confident response is the result of months of patient work and creativity from RM and the team.
When RM moved into The Dispensary in last year, fire drills were a real challenge. The loud alarm would send him straight to his flat — his place of comfort — and he found it difficult to evacuate. The team tried different approaches, from ear defenders to social stories, but nothing seemed to work.
That’s when Support Worker Tia had a lightbulb moment: involve RM’s Teletubbies in the evacuation. By making it about keeping his teddies safe as well as himself, RM’s confidence grew. Soon, he was completing full fire drills with no prompts — even leading staff to the assembly point.
RM’s Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEPs) now officially includes LaaLaa and Tinky Winky, ensuring any staff working in the service know they are part of his evacuation plan. They are even included in the head count at the fire assembly point.
He has since been nominated for a Leaps and Bounds award and given a special certificate for his quick thinking during that recent alarm. RM’s story is a reminder that sometimes the smallest comfort can make the biggest difference!
