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Most everyone nowadays knows how important it is to have working smoke alarms in our homes.
But have you ever wondered if there are smoke alarms that are designed to protect folks who are deaf or otherwise hearing impaired?
Well, it turns out there are.
For example, there are special hearing impaired smoke detectors equipped with strobe lights that will illuminate an entire bedroom with super-bright flashes of light.
This flashing is so intense and bright that’s it’s almost impossible for a person who is sleeping not to wake up when the strobe starts flashing.
And for “hard sleepers” who are hearing paired there are even smoke detectors that will vibrate the person’s bed.
The vibration device can be placed under the mattress. And for especially “hard sleepers” it can even be placed under the pillow!
According to the National Fire Protection Association, these devices are extremely effective for individuals who aren’t able to rely on the piercing noise from a traditional smoke detector to alert them in the event of a fire.
Unfortunately, most of the hearing impaired smoke detectors on the market today are considerably more expensive than traditional models, but they should be considered a bargain when compared against the potential loss of someone’s life.
If you or someone you love has a need for one of these devices but you simply can’t afford one, check with your local fire department to see if they have any available.
Many fire departments have partnered with FEMA to make smoke alarms available to the public at a reduced cost – and in some cases for free. And yes, that includes smoke alarms for the hearing impaired!
To finish up, here’s a short video featuring several home safety tips for people who are deaf or hearing impaired. Check it out.
Note: As always, you can watch the video at full screen by clicking the “square” icon that will pop up in the lower-right corner of the video after it begins playing.