Deaf people face alarming fire safety risk
02/05/2007
.jpg)
Fire is a hazard for most of us in our homes, but for those who have hearing difficulties, the inability to hear a traditional smoke alarm can be fatal - which is why the Fire Kills campaign is teaming up with Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) to raise awareness of the need for people to have the correct smoke alarm installed for their needs.
According to research carried out by the RNID, a third of people with a hearing loss say they would have difficulty waking up to a conventional alarm, especially considering most remove their hearing aids before they go to sleep each night. And almost a quarter (23%) say they would even struggle to know if the alarm went off during the day. But everyone affected by hearing loss can contact their local fire and rescue service for a free home fire risk check, where a fire officer will install a free working smoke alarm that will alert them in the event of a fire.
Conventional smoke alarms work by emitting a loud noise when smoke is detected, providing the vital early warning of fire, and therefore aiding escape. People who are deaf or hard of hearing need additional ways of making them aware the alarm has been activated, including vibrating pads and flashing strobe lights.
Last year, retired Ronald Black from Newcastle who is hard of hearing, didn’t hear the regular smoke alarm installed in his home when a pan caught fire. Mr Black said: "It was around 5.00pm when the pan caught fire. I was reading alone in the living room with the door closed so I was completely unaware of what was going outside. Because my hearing is bad I didn’t even hear the smoke alarm. Thank God a cyclist passing by saw the smoke coming from the kitchen and came inside to rescue me and lead me out to safety."
Sadly, Mr Black’s wife had died two years earlier and he hadn't had a smoke alarm fitted to meet his needs. He continued: "After the fire, my local fire and rescue service have carried out a fire risk check in my home and a representative fitted a smoke alarm with vibrating pads and flashing strobe lights which will alert me if I have a fire again."
Ian Dixon, Community Liaison Officer at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service said, "There are many deaf or hard of hearing people like Ronald Black who are unaware that they cannot hear their smoke alarm.
During Deaf Awareness Week, we want to urge people who are deaf or hard of hearing to install a special smoke alarm. It just couldn’t be easier to stay safe."
Brian Grover, Head of Technology and Research at RNID, says: "Fire can strike at anyone’s home, but not everyone is equally protected because deaf people cannot rely on hearing an ordinary alarm. We encourage deaf and hard of hearing people to think about their personal fire safety and ensure they have the right alarm for their needs."
For further information on fire safety or to get contact details of your local fire and rescue service, visit the link below The RNID is on
0808 808 0123, textphone 0808 808 9000 or visit the second link below.