Smoke Alarms Being Installed in Hard of Hearing Families' Homes

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department, in cooperation with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #405, has begun installing smoke alarms in the homes of families that have at least one member of the household who is hard of hearing or deaf.  The State Fire Marshal Division announced the “100 Year – 100 Percent Smoke Alarm Campaign” in October 2010 to assure that every child in Iowa has a working smoke alarm in their home.  The unique portion of the “100 Year – 100 Percent Smoke Alarm Campaign” aims to address families that may have children who are hard of hearing or deaf.

When a member of the household is hard of hearing or deaf, the family member may not wake up during a fire because they cannot hear the smoke alarm.  State Fire Marshal Ray Reynolds says, “Relying on a parent to locate and wake a sleeping child in order to evacuate from a fire wastes precious seconds.  A fire will continue to grow regardless if you can hear your smoke alarm or not.”  The State Fire Marshal's Office provided smoke alarms that will sound and a strobe light that will flash in an effort to alert a deaf or hard of hearing family member of potential fire danger.

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department has identified six families in Cedar Rapids that have family members who qualify for specialized strobe sensor smoke alarms designed to wake persons who are hard of hearing to alert them of a fire.

The Fire Department is working with licensed electricians from the IBEW Local #405, who are providing volunteer labor to professionally install the smoke alarms in the homes.

United Services Fire Restoration Company of Grimes, Iowa recently purchased over 50 sets of the special detectors that cost about $150 per unit.  All of the 50 units have been distributed throughout the State of Iowa at this point, however, with increased funding from private corporations there will be more detectors for families in need.

Members of the media interested in visiting a home in which a special smoke alarm has been installed are invited to meet at 3511 E Avenue NW at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 3rd.  Local electricians, fire department personnel, and the family that received the smoke alarm will be available for interviews and a demonstration of the smoke alarm device.

No further information is available at this time.

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