Fire Alarms for Disabled People

Tim_Deegan

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

They were at my flu jab clinic, asking if you wanted a smoke alarm check if you had one, and offering to fit one and give general advice if you don't.

I put my name down, but said I wasn't high priority!

If you don't have a smoke alarm, or it isn't working properly, then you are high priority. Call your local fire station as soon as possible.

Tim_Deegan

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

That might not be the case: if you have proper fire doors in your flat, then your best bet might be 'stay put' - get a door shut between you and fire and wait to be rescued.

You still need to be woken up, and a smoke alarm is often the only thing that will do this. Many people think that the smoke would wake them up, but the truth is that due to the toxic gasses in smoke, it could kill you in your sleep.

Tim_Deegan

annettemc wrote: »

My smoke alarm was put in when my council house was re-wired last year. The old battery operated one used to beep all the time and did cause quite a lot of problems for my son who has frequent sleep disturbances, and from time to time I took the battery out as it was driving us mad....

In May this year my son was away to a young carers camp and I conked out with a Diabetic Hypo while cooking lunch... Needless to say the pot burned out and thanks to the new smoke alarm my next door neighbour's son heard the alarm and thankfully I was rescued by the firebrigade and paramedics:j
:T :j I have certainly realised how important a working alarm is and how quickly things can go wrong....

Most fire services are now installing optical smoke alarms which operate in a different way to the old ionising ones. This means that they don't go off as easily when you just burn your toast.

Many of them also now have 10 year batteries, so the battery low bleep won't go off as often. And many are also tamper proof to stop people taking the battery out......tut tut.

Tim_Deegan

Ames wrote: »

I need some fire alarms, two of mine started beeping for no reason and the only way to shut them up was to cut the wires. I'll add it to my list of things to do!

Does anyone know if you can have them installed lower down, say on the walls? I really struggle to lift my arms up to stop them when they're on the ceiling.

Never disable your smoke alarms. They are your only warning. Also don't just add it to a list of things to do, call your local fire station, and they will come and fit new ones.

Smoke rises so the smaoke alarms need to be on a flat ceiling at least 10cm away from any walls or beams. If you can't reach them, then use a stick to test them.

Tim_Deegan

altocumulus wrote: »

Very useful advice when your nearest neighbour is 1/2 mile away ... :rotfl::rotfl:

That's why you should have a phone in your bedroom. If you have a mobile, then keep that next to the bed also, just in case a fire has damaged the phone cables.

Tim_Deegan

nanokitten wrote: »

Maybe we could make a list of sources of help for these things, we already know the fire brigade will help, you might get a disabled facilities grant for more accessible ones, help the aged, some energy companies sometimes have alarms or caron monoxide detectors available.

Most fire services also have specialised smoke alarms for the deaf or blind. Their fire safety department should also be able to help regarding smoke alarms suitable for most dissabilities.

Unfortunately carbon monoxide detectors aren't free yet.

Tim_Deegan

bored_at_home wrote: »

this service is brilliant and is available to absolutely anyone.
i had 2 very sexy friendly firemen came round and fitted me 3 smoke alarms and discuss exit routes etc with me.

i only officially needed 2 for my bungalow, but as one of my symptoms of my disability is im unwakeable by noise they put an extra one above my bed.
i got my mate to set it off at 3am and i carried on snoring, but that isnt their fault lol.

Contact their fire safety department, as you may be able to get a vibrating pillow that goes off with the smoke alarm. These are normally for the deaf, but I think you should qualify.

Tim_Deegan

TaBunny wrote: »

That's it I'm going to try and rip off my current smoke alarms and bin them I am drooling at the thought of firemen lol

No need to do that. They will still do a free home safety check even if you have smoke alarms.

Tim_Deegan

I think this thread needs a bump for all those people who don't have smoke alarms yet.

itsnotfair_2

Just a little down note here. I got the 3 hunky firemen and engine and they took away my alarms, which incidently worked fine and replaced them with they amazing new ones.

The battery pack cannot be replaced but is meant to last 10 years. That was last summer. 2 of mine have gone flat already. So while I wait for those hunky men to come again (because I they won't let me take them back to them myself) I am 2 alarms down. Think I should go a buy some more.