- Author
- United States Fire Administration
- Title
- Fire Risks for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
- Coporate
- U.S. Fire Administration, Washington, DC
- Distribution
- AVAILABLE FROM: U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), 16825 South Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727. Telephone: 301-447-1000. Website: http://www.usfa.fema.gov
- Keywords
- handicaped | fire risks | fire safety | fire departments
- Identifiers
- tips for fire service professionals
- Abstract
- People who are deaf or hard of hearing face a high risk for fire and fire-related injury. The hearing world dominates much of the way our society is physically and socially structured. Communication involves the free exchange of ideas, the receipt of such ideas, and reaching a mutual understanding about these ideas. This cannot be done when parties communicate through different media. Telephonic communication relies on the ability to speak and hear. For those who cannot hear, the external world is foreign, obstructive, and potentially dangerous. This is especially true in the case of audible alarms. For centuries, public and individual warning signs have typically been sound oriented. Paul Revere used his voice to warn of the impending British invasion. During the height of the Cold War, warning sirens were used in air raid exercises to alert Americans to the possibility of nuclear attack. These modes of communication were the most effective ways to reach the greatest number of people. Fire and smoke alarms are no different. However, these life-saving devices are of little use to an individual who is hearing impaired. Light-equipped smoke alarms have been developed, but they are expensive and not widely available. Significant progress has been made in developing fire protection and alerting devices and in educating the public about fire prevention. However, much remains to be done if people who are hearing impaired are to benefit from these advances. Many deaf children receive targeted fire protection education in school. However, public service announcements disseminated through the mainstream media--particularly television and radio--may not reach the people who are deaf or hard of hearing. This report is divided into three principal sections. In the first section, the cultural perceptions of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals are discussed, along with the impact that hearing loss has on daily life. The current estimates of the deaf and hard-of-hearing population are also presented in conjunction with projected estimates of future populations. The second section focuses on the characteristics of deaf and hard-of-hearing people that places them at risk to injury, especially fire-related injury. The effectiveness of fire protection devices for deaf and hard-of-hearing people are discussed, as are educational programs. The final section of this report provides tips to fire service professionals for enhancing fire safety for people with disabilities. A reproduction-ready appendix presents fire safety tips. Fire service professionals may photocopy the appendix for use in public education activities.