Fire safety warning to deaf people

10:11am Saturday 3rd May 2008

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HEREFORD and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and RNID, the national charity which represents the UK's deaf and hard of hearing people, are joining forces during Deaf Awareness Week (May 5-11) to urge people with hearing difficulties to be fire safe in the home.

With an estimated 1 million adults in the UK unable to hear an ordinary smoke alarm because of deafness or removal of a hearing aid at night, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is urging residents across both counties to check they have the right smoke detection system for their needs.

There are an estimated 9 million people in the UK with some form of hearing loss, which is set to rise as the number of people over the age of 60 increases. Although many of those people will have only small degrees of hearing loss, Ian Prust, group manager for community safety said: "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 who is at risk and in doubt about the alarm they need should contact us on 0800 032 1155 for a free home fire safety check. We are here to help make sure your home is as fire safe as possible."

Home fire safety checks are available throughout England and offer "at-risk" people the opportunity to gain valuable help from their local fire and rescue services about planning escape routes, positioning alarms and ensuring that the correct, working smoke alarm is fitted in the home.

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 someon is in the home they will be alerted to their smoke alarm.

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.

"Hearing loss may limit a person's ability to take the quick action necessary to escape during a fire emergency. Therefore it's vital that deaf and hard of hearing people think about their personal fire safety and ensure they have the right smoke alarm for their needs.

"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 that standard give deaf people assurance of quality smoke alarms designed to meet their needs.

For further information about smoke alarms for deaf and hard of hearing people, contact RNID Products on 01733 361199, textphone 01733 238020 or visit www.rnid.org.uk/shop.