Smoke Alarms for people who are deaf or hard of hearing

  • Published
  • By Gabriel Moreno
  • 377th Mission Support Group assistant chief of fire prevention
Kirtland Air Force Base --  Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan. When working properly, they can cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half.

For most of us, hearing the "beep - beep - beep" of our home smoke alarm is a clear signal to get out and stay out. But what if you couldn't hear the sound of the smoke alarm?

People who are deaf or hard of hearing cannot rely on sound to alert them to smoke or fire. Because the majority of fatal fires occur when people are sleeping - and because smoke can put people into a deeper sleep - it is important to have the necessary early warning of a fire to ensure that they wake up.

Thankfully, there are technologies that appeal to other senses. Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf which use strobe lights to wake the person.

Additionally, you can install vibration equipment - like pillow or bed shakers - which are activated by the sound of the smoke alarm.

Recent research also shows that as people age, their ability to hear highpitched sounds decreases. People with mild to severe hearing loss can use equipment that emits a mixed, low-pitched sound. This device is activated by the sound of a traditional smoke alarm. The low-pitched sound is more effective than the sound of a smoke alarm for waking people up in all age groups.

While these products use different alert methods, the same general rules for smoke alarms still apply:

 There are two types of smoke alarm technologies - ionization and photoelectric. An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires - like a pan fire or the smoke from cooking. A photoelectric alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires - like a cigarette, overheated wiring or something hot like a space heater. Install both types of alarms in your home or combination ionization and photoelectric alarms that take advantage of both technologies.

 Test smoke alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button. If an alarm "chirps," warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.

Unfortunately, many homes in communities throughout the U.S., still do not have the appropriate level of smoke alarm protection. Research from the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association shows that roughly two-thirds of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. About one in five smoke alarm failures was due to dead batteries.