Fire is a hazard for most of us in our homes, but for those who are deaf or have hearing difficulties, the inability to hear a traditional smoke alarm can be fatal. There is a need for such people to have the correct fire safety alarm installed for their needs.
Conventional smoke alarms work by emitting a loud noise when smoke is detected, providing the vital 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, flashing strobe lights, textphones, listening devices and alerting devices such as specially adapted doorbells and alarm clocks.
Most deaf people working alongside hearing colleagues will be able to see and understand the behaviour of those around them. They do not need special fire safety equipment to alert them to a fire, as long as they know what to do in the event of such an emergency. However, for those working alone they may need an alternative way of being alerted. Many fire alarm systems have visual indicators such as a flashing light.
There are other fire safety devices available too, such as deaf alerter systems. These can be added into existing alarm systems and linked to vibrating pagers, which are issued to deaf or hard of hearing staff members.
Another example is the Deaf Messaging System, which informs deaf or hard of hearing people via text messaging, when the fire alarm sounds in places like a supermarket, shopping centre, office or library. It allows deaf and hard of hearing people the freedom to move around buildings secure in the knowledge their fire safety needs are being met.
Service providers such as hoteliers, Bed and Breakfast owners and suppliers of sleeping accommodation are legally obliged to make reasonable adjustment for the disabled, which includes deaf and hard of hearing people.
In the event of fire, deaf or hard of hearing people might not be able to hear the fire alarm, especially when they are asleep. Service provides should offer their guests a system such as a battery powered, wireless unit with a pad attachment that goes under the pillow of the sleeping person to alert deaf or hard of hearing people when the fire alarm sounds whilst they are sleeping. The system listens for fire alarm. When the fire alarm sounds the pillow pad vibrates, high intensity LED lights flash and an LCD screen displays ‘fire’.
The majority of fatal fires occur when people are sleeping, and because smoke can put people into a deeper sleep, it is important to have the necessary early warning of a fire to ensure that they wake up. Fire safety systems installed in homes and buildings are vital in helping people get to escape emergency situations.