News
Deaf people get a frosty reception
Clare Chilton was asleep in her hotel room when a man opened her door, came into the room and approached her bed. Being profoundly deaf, she didn't hear him come in and describes her "horror" at being woken up by a strange hand on her shoulder.
The man was a member of the hotel staff who was rousing Clare after she'd requested a wake-up call the night before. Clare, an assessor for Level One British Sign Language exams and TV presenter on the BBC's See Hear television programme for deaf and hard of hearing people, who’s a regular traveller as a teacher on training courses, says: "We are treated like second-class citizens by the majority of public-facing institutions in the UK, and hotels are no exception."
Her findings are included in Deaf to Change, a survey of hotels commissioned by Fireco Ltd, manufacturers of Deafgard, the wireless solution for communicating the sound of the fire alarm to deaf and hard of hearing people: www.deafgard.com.
The UK has a growing deaf community of 9 million people, with a 45% increase in the number of registered deaf people since 1989. Yet, according to the survey, more than 80% of UK hotels make no provision for communicating with deaf and hard of hearing people or providing even basic services.
Clare also says the safety of deaf and hard of hearing guests is being ignored. Hotels should comply with safety guidelines provided by the RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People), which say hotels should provide flashing fire alarms, alarms with vibrating under-pillow pads, and a loop system at counter areas and reception desks that enable communication with hearing-aid users.
Deafgard is a moveable wireless acoustically triggered bedside unit that incorporates a high intensity strobe LEDs and a connected vibrator pad, that when placed under the pillow, vibrates to wake the sleeper upon the fire alarm sounding. The flashing LEDs and LCD provide visual indication that the fire alarm is sounding, allowing the individual to leave their room to a place of safety.
Deafgard’s unique advantage is its cost-effectiveness and flexibility. When a deaf or hard of hearing guest checks in, the Receptionist checks and shows the guest how to operate the Deafgard unit. The Deafgard unit accompanies the guest to his/her hotel room giving peace of mind should there be a fire emergency.
Deafgard assists in complying with elements of the DDA, and it is designed to respond to a fire alarm installed in conformity with the British Standard 5839 Part 1.
For more information contact Fireco on (local rate) 0845 241 7474, e-mail sales@firecoltd.com or visit www.firecoltd.com