Fire alarms
It's important that deaf children and young people are alerted if there is a fire at home, especially when they are sleeping.
Deaf-friendly fire alarms – including heat, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors – typically use vibrations and/or flashing lights to alert deaf people.
This page focuses on fire safety at home. For fire safety guidance in education and at work, see RNID's health and safety guidance.
Features of deaf-friendly fire alarms
There are fire alarms available that:
- send a wireless signal to a vibrating pad placed under the pillow and to a strobe light placed next to the bed
- are part of a home alerting system and can alert a deaf person wherever they are in the house
- are battery-operated and can be used when spending a night away from home. The alarm picks up the sound of a fire alarm and will set off a vibrating pad and strobe light.
Where to get fire alarms
Depending on where you live, your local fire service may provide and install a deaf-friendly fire alarm for free. If they don't, they'll be able to recommend an alarm that you could buy yourself. Find your local UK fire and rescue service on the National Fire Chiefs Council website to organise a home fire safety visit.
You can also buy suitable fire alarms from many different online retailers, including:
You may qualify for support from your local sensory or social care service to get a fire alarm. Check out how to get assistive technology for more information.
Contacting emergency services
There are apps and relay services available that can help deaf people contact emergency services. Find out more about contacting emergency services.
Need help or advice?
If you have a question about using or getting assistive technology, our advisers are here to help.
Full references for this webpage are available by emailing
informationteam@ndcs.org.uk