Delaware Launches Fire Alert Program for Deaf Residents
State of DE - Delaware has started a new program to help Deaf and hard of hearing residents stay safe from fire and carbon monoxide. The Delaware Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DODHH) and the Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office (DSFMO) held a live demonstration at the Delaware Department of Labor to mark the launch.
The Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alert Device Program was created under House Bill 53. It gives eligible Delaware residents alert equipment that uses lights and vibration instead of sound.
The event was called "Life Safety in Action: Fire and Carbon Monoxide Alert Device Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing." It took place during Deaf Awareness Month.
Guests saw the equipment in use during the demonstration. It included flash receivers, vibrating bed shakers, and alarm clocks with bed shakers, all made for people who cannot hear a standard alarm.
Rebekah LePore, program representative for the Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office, explained why the equipment matters. "Standard audible smoke alarms are entirely ineffective if you cannot hear them, leaving the Deaf and hard of hearing communities disproportionately vulnerable to home fire fatalities," said LePore. "In a fire, every second counts. By providing specialized visual strobe alerts and tactile bed shakers, this program bridges a critical safety gap and ensures that these citizens receive the immediate, life-saving warnings they need to escape safely."
State Fire Marshal John Rudd spoke at the event. Vocational Rehabilitation Director Elisha Jenkins, Christina Feil of DODHH, Representative Frank Burns, and Representative Ed Osienski also attended, along with many members of the local hearing loss community.
"This program represents an important step towards ensuring access to critical life safety equipment for all Delawareans, and we hope it will also ease the fire safety concerns of our deaf and hard of hearing communities. We thank the members of the General Assembly for their support of this vital program," said State Fire Marshal Rudd.
The program is meant for people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, DeafBlind, or blind with hearing loss. State officials, lawmakers, and advocates stood together at the event to show their support.
