25 April 2008
Deaf Awareness Week is from 5 to 11 May and Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service will be joining forces with the RNID, the national charity which represents the UK’s deaf and hard of hearing people, to urge those with hearing difficulties to be fire safe in the home.
There are an estimated 9 million people in the UK with some form of hearing loss, with around one million adults the UK unable to hear an ordinary smoke alarm on account of deafness or removal of a hearing aid at night.
With these figures set to rise as the number of people over the age of 60 increases, firefighters are asking the residents of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes to check they have the right smoke detection system for their needs.
Although many of these people may have only small degrees of hearing loss, Terry Ridgley, head of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service’s community safety team, explained: “Many people with hearing loss may be at risk when they are not wearing hearing aids or when they are far from their smoke alarm – especially if sleeping with their bedroom door closed. This means they might not be able to hear their smoke alarm if it goes off during the night, which is when the majority of fires in the home occur.
“It is vital that in these circumstances people ensure they have the right smoke alarm technology in their home to protect them. Anyone in doubt about the alarm they need should contact us for a free Home Fire Risk Check. We are here to help make sure your home is as fire safe as possible.”
There are a range of specialist alarms available for people who experience hearing difficulties, ranging from alarms with strobe lighting, vibrating alarms, and small wearable radio linked pagers to ensure that wherever you are in the home you will be alerted to your smoke alarm.
Stanley and Jeanne Eustace, who live in Buckinghamshire, contacted the RNID 18 months ago wanting advice about fire safety as Stanley has hearing difficulties. Firefighters from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service completed a Home Fire Risk Check on the property and, working with the RNID, fitted smoke alarms along with specially designed handsets that flash if the alarm or doorbell sounds.
Jeanne said: “The firefighters that came to the house were very helpful and gave us some very useful advice on how to make our home safer for Stanley. We now have handsets which flash when alarms sound which can alert Stanley wherever he is in the house.
“A panic button was also set up for Stanley in case he is ever on his own in the house. Thankfully these systems haven’t had to be used however it gives me peace of mind to know that Stanley would be alerted if there ever was a fire”.
Mark Catling, Director of RNID Products, the not-for-profit retail arm of the charity for deaf and hard of hearing people, said: “Many people are losing their hearing and not doing anything about it. However, if you can’t hear your smoke alarm you are putting your life at risk.
“We urge anyone who has doubts about their hearing to take action by calling RNID’s special, five minute telephone hearing check on 0845 600 5555. Taking this first step could improve your life for the better and ensure you hear important sounds such as smoke alarms for longer.”
British Standard BS5446-3:2005, which was amended in 2007, specifies smoke alarm kits for deaf and hard of hearing people. Products made to this standard give deaf people assurance of quality smoke alarms designed to meet their needs.
For more information please contact the community safety team on 01296 744477 or email cs@bucksfire.gov.uk
For further information about smoke alarms for deaf and hard of hearing people, please contact RNID Products on 01733 361199, textphone 01733 238020 or visit www.rnid.org.uk/shop