Deaf Awareness week (4-10th May) is a national campaign in the UK to raise awareness for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. It is estimated that there are about 9 million people in the UK who fall under this hidden disability, which is the third most common disability in the world. A majority of deaf people don’t view their lack of hearing as a disability as they are able to communicate and participate in daily tasks and fit in within society. Some of the Key adaptations that deaf people include: Learning BSL, utilising technology such as voice to text apps, Hearing Aids, and Hearing Protection.
Deaf awareness week helps promote understanding, inclusion and adaption of public spaces such as schools and work. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Right to understand, together we break barriers”. This theme highlights the importance of adapting spaces and the need to improve communication barriers to ultimately build a more inclusive society.
As a Life safety and housing solutions company we want to promote the importance of adapted fire safety for those with hearing loss, because fire safety doesn’t have to be loud and no one should be left unprotected because a standard smoke alarm wasn’t built for them in mind.
Fire safety for those with hearing difficulties
Hispec RF Deaf Aid Kit
Hispec’s RF Deaf Aid Kit with Strobe, Vibrating Pad, and AC/DC Adaptor offers a comprehensive solution for individuals with hearing impairments. Combining visual, tactile, and audio alerts, this kit ensures effective notification and increased safety in various environments. The Deaf Aid kit alerts to a range of dangers including Smoke/Heat, Smoke/Heat and CO, and Carbon Monoxide. This alarm should be installed in the main room where you sleep, and you should consider pairing additional strobes, vibration pads, and standard smoke alarms to the network and install them in any room where you need to be alerted in the event of an alarm. Position the vibrator pad underneath your pillow or a cushion where you are likely to fall asleep and ensure to install the strobe where you can see the strobe flashing in the room.
What to do if the alarm has been triggered?
Don’t panic and stay calm, your safe escape may depend on thinking clearly and remembering what you have practiced. Notify every member in the residence and evacuate the house as quickly as possible. Feel the doors to see if they are hot, if they are hot do not open the door and use an alternative escape route. Stay close to the floor as smoke and hot gasses rise, ensure to cover your nose and mouth with a cloth (wet if possible) and take short shallow breaths. Keep doors and windows closed and only open them if you must escape that way. Never go back inside the building until a member of the fire service has told you it is safe to do so.
Making your home safer in the case of an emergency
Here are some practical steps you can take in your home:
Always plan an escape route in your home.
Keep escape routes clear so your exit won’t be obstructed in the case of a fire or emergency.
Fit working smoke alarms with vibration pads and flashing lights.
Make sure you know where the keys for doors and windows are kept.
If you cannot make voice calls you can contact 999 by SMS or download the 999 BSL app from the app store.
Keep a whistle close by in an easy to reach area within your home if it’s hard to shout.
Deaf Awareness Week is a reminder that accessibility benefits everyone. By improving awareness and understanding, we can create a more inclusive world where Deaf people are fully included in all aspects of life and are kept safe.