Ceuta protocolizes care for people with disabilities in emergencies

The Autonomous City of Ceuta has approved a new technical instruction that protocolizes the management of emergencies involving people with disabilities, a group that, according to the EDAD 2020 survey by the National Statistics Institute, reaches approximately 6,900 people in the city. The regulation, signed by the Councilor for Presidency and Governance, Alberto Ramón Gaitán Rodríguez, is published in the Official Gazette of the Autonomous City of Ceuta (BOCCE) number 6,648, dated September 1, 2026.

The decree, dated July 22, 2026, approves the Annex to the Civil Protection Technical Instruction 2026-008 (reference IT_PC:2026-008), developed by the City’s Civil Protection Service. The text is based on the technical report from the head of said service, dated July 20, 2026, and is framed within state civil protection regulations, including Law 17/2015, on the National Civil Protection System, and Royal Decree 524/2023, which approves the Basic Civil Protection Standard.

A protocol agreed upon with social entities

The instruction has been developed and agreed upon with six entities and services with competence in the matter, which also provide training content in its annex:

• Official College of Psychology of Ceuta
• Mental Health Association of Ceuta
• Spanish Confederation of People with Physical and Organic Disabilities of Ceuta
• Down Syndrome Association of Ceuta
• 112 Emergency Centers of Ceuta
• Plena Inclusión of Ceuta

The document includes the reference regulatory framework, highlighting the reform of Article 49 of the Spanish Constitution (BOE of February 17, 2024) and Legislative Royal Decree 1/2023, of the General Law on the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as the state protocol for communication and care for this group in emergencies approved in November 2025 by the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies.

Adaptation of 112 and operational procedures

The instruction requires the Ceuta 112 Dispatch Center to incorporate a question into its calls asking if any person at the scene requires special attention, in order to anticipate alerts and activate emergency psychology experts. When a person with a disability is identified, the operator will gather information regarding their communication needs, autonomy, and usual supports.

The operational personnel intervening at the scene must facilitate access and a secure area for the emergency psychologists activated by 112, who are identified by a card from the Official College of Psychology of Ceuta and a navy blue vest. Additionally, specialized training in adapted communication, emotional regulation, verbal de-escalation, and initial psychological care will be guaranteed for the responding personnel.

Action criteria by type of disability

The text establishes minimum procedural criteria for intervention, with specific guidelines according to the type of disability:

• Physical-motor: prioritize horizontal evacuations, do not remove orthoses, and have versatile rescue equipment available.
• Visual: announce presence, offer guidance, describe the environment, and do not leave the person alone.
• Auditory: eye contact, gestural or written expressions, and verify understanding of the message.
• Cognitive or intellectual: short and clear language, one instruction at a time, and address the person by their name.
• Mental or psychosocial: ask before helping, reduce stimuli, and avoid unnecessary physical contact.

The instruction emphasizes that 50% of people with disabilities experience unwanted loneliness and that emergencies aggravate pre-existing conditions; therefore, the perception of security and adapted communication are essential for an effective response.

Relevance for the citizenry

The regulation makes Ceuta one of the administrations to incorporate the state protocol for disability care in emergencies into its local operations, with a universal scope: anyone can be affected by a permanent or temporary disability. Its application affects all emergency services and operations in the City, and seeks to reduce the psychological impact and guarantee a safe, person-centered response.

Source: Official Gazette of the Autonomous City of Ceuta (BOCCE), no. 6,648, September 1, 2026, General Provisions, page 3310 (official reference: Decree of July 22, 2026, Technical Instruction IT_PC:2026-008).