Deaf Awareness week

Date:   02/04/2008

With most domestic fires happening during the night, what happens if you're deaf or hard of hearing and you've taken out your hearing aids to go to sleep?

During Deaf Awareness Week (5^th-11^th May 2008), North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is teaming up with RNID - the national charity for deaf and hard of hearing people - to raise awareness of special smoke alarm systems, which could save the life of a person with hearing loss in the event of a fire.

With an estimated one million adults within the UK unable to hear an ordinary smoke alarm on account of deafness or removal of a hearing aid at night (RNID estimate 2006), North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to check they have the right smoke detection system for their needs.

Conventional smoke alarms work by emitting a loud noise when smoke is detected, providing the vital early warning of fire, and 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.

Deaf Awareness Week is an ideal opportunity for those who know anyone who is deaf or hard of hearing, to make sure they have alarms that meet their needs.

You can Contact us on 01609 788545 or visit our website http://www.northyorksfire.gov.uk/ to book a Home Fire Risk Check, where a trained fire crew can visit your home to give fire safety advice and fit a smoke alarm that meets your 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.

For further information on how the Fire and Rescue Service can help, please visit http://www.firekills.gov.uk/ to obtain your local Fire and Rescue Service contact details. For further information about BSI standard smoke alarms for deaf and hard of hearing people, please contact RNID Products on telephone 0870 789 8855, textphone 01733 238020 or visit http://www.rnidshop.com/  

For information on deafness and hearing loss please contact RNID on 0808 808 0123 or textphone 0808 808 9000 or visit http://www.rnid.org.uk/

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.