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Your Safety
...for the disabled
If you are deaf, a little hard of hearing or simply a heavy sleeper, you should consider this type of smoke-alarm system. These smoke alarms can be fitted with a vibrating pad and flashing strobe light.
You should put the pad under your mattress or pillow to wake you up at night if there is a fire. When smoke is detected, the alarm will sound and set off the light and pad. This will wake you up instantly. Battery-operated systems cost from £100.
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) produces a fact sheet on smoke-alarm systems for the deaf and hard of hearing. Contact the RNID information line on 0808 808 0123 or textphone 0808 808 9000 or visit www.rnid.org.uk.
For local services contact the Hampshire Deaf Organisation on Voicephone: 023 8051 6516, Minicom: 023 8051 6518 or Fax: 023 8051 6517, Email: enquiries@deafhampshire.org or visit www.deafhampshire.org
If you are concerned that you will not hear your smoke alarm because you live in a large house, or one with more than one floor, you may want to consider asking a qualified electrician to install linked alarms. Interconnected alarms can be installed so that when one detects a fire, they will all sound. This will make sure that you are woken up before the fire has spread closer to you.
For further information on how Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service can help, please contact the Community Fire Safety Team on 023 8062 6707
(Information and images on this page have been extracted from the leaflet: "Fire safety for people with sight, hearing or mobility difficulties", Crown copyright 2004. This leaflet is available to download from the Fire Kills website)
