For most people in high rises, fire drills are just another necessary interruption that involves lots of stair climbing. But for those confined to wheelchairs, fire drills are reminders that if there's a real fire, they will be heavily reliant on the goodness of others for making a safe escape. To simplify the task of evacuating people in wheelchairs and others with disabilities, engineers at EMS Equipment, Portage, Mich., (ems.stryker.com) have developed the Stryker Evacuation chair. It lets an untrained operator safely move a 200-lb person up or down steps. (Two operators are needed to move patients weighing between 200 and 500 lb., the chair's upper limit.) Key to its performance is its StairTread feature. It leverages the patient's weight to apply friction and brake the chair while going up or downstairs — mid-step, if necessary. On level ground, the chair has a zero degree turning radius for maneuvering in tight spaces, such as stairway landings. The 34-lb chair exceeds ADA standard for accessible egress, carries a 15-yr warranty, and company representatives will conduct on-site training to familiarize people with the chair.