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Merseyside Fire and Rescue
Service reaches out to deaf and hard of hearing communities during Deaf
Awareness Week
MORE than 900,000 people in the UK
are severely or profoundly deaf and would be unable to hear ordinary smoke
alarms at night.
Therefore, as part of 'Deaf Awareness Week,' 15 May to 21 May 2017, Merseyside Fire
and
Rescue Service is reminding the county's residents to make sure they fit and
test the right smoke alarms for those who suffer from hearing loss in their
homes.
A whole range of alarms have been designed specifically for the hard of
hearing, with features ranging from strobe lighting and vibrating alarms to
small wearable radio linked pagers. These specialist alarms can save lives,
alerting people to a fire in their home even if they remove their hearing
aid at night.
For anyone concerned that a relative, friend or neighbour may not be able to
hear their smoke alarm in the event of a fire, Merseyside Fire and Rescue
Service may be able to provide them with a hard of hearing smoke alarm
featuring a vibrating pad and light strobe.
Station Manager for Community Safety Prevention and Protection, Kevin Johnson,
said:- "It is vital that people who are deaf or hard of hearing ensure
they have the right smoke alarm technology in their home to protect them
and that they test them regularly, to make sure they work.
Many people with hearing loss could be at serious risk if they don't have
the right alarms in place. Specialist alarm systems provide valuable time to
escape from a house blaze. Without it, lives could be lost.
Anyone unsure about the alarms they need should contact Merseyside Fire and
Rescue Service for a Home Fire Safety Check. We are here to help make sure
your home is as fire safe as possible. Home Fire Safety Checks offer people
the opportunity to get invaluable advice about planning escape routes,
positioning alarms and ensuring that appropriate working smoke alarms are
fitted in your home."
If you have concerns that a relative or friend may not be able to hear their
smoke alarm in the event of a fire please call:- 0800 731 5958 or fill out the
Home Fire Safety Check request form on:-
MerseyFire.Gov.UK.
People who have difficulties with speech or are hard of hearing or deaf can
email
requesting fire safety information to be sent to them.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service also urges people who are unable to make a
voice call to:- 999 to register their mobile phones with the emergency SMS
service. This allows them to text an emergency call to any of the UK's
emergency services.
To do this they should text:- 'register'
to 999 and then follow the instructions received. Or for further information
visit:-
EmergencySMS.Org.UK.
Once registered the person can make an emergency call by sending a text to:-
999. |
